By Dr. Massuline Antonio D. Ligaya
Shortly after winning his bout against Michael Katsidis, Juan Manuel Marquez wore a shirt where the bold pronouncements “Marquez beat Pacquiao twice” were imprinted. Some opined that such arrogant display was meant to lure the People’s Champ into a third fight. Others said that it was a case of “sour graping” on the part of the Mexican boxer. It could be construed as well that such an act was a simple case of disrespect to the Filipino boxing champ.
The rivalry between the two future hall-of-famers (and Marzquez’s “sour graping”) started when their first fight on May 9, 2004 at the MGM Grand Garden Hotel for the WBA Super Featherweight (126 lbs) diadem ended in a draw. Then the two faced off again on March 15, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino for the WBC Super Featherweight title (130 lbs.) which the Pacman won by a hairline, via a split decision. Naturally, the so-called Mexican dynamite exploded again in exasperation and “sour graped” all the more.
Naturally, in close boxing matches such as those two fought by Pacquaio and Marquez, each fighter would nurture the thought that he won. It is natural as well that their supporters would claim that their respective warriors won the fight. Of course, self-proclaimed experts would say that this and that fighter won because of this and that reason.
But in boxing matches it is not whether the boxers feel that they won or not, that matters. Neither would the opinion of the supporters and the experts. What counts in boxing matches when none of the combatants are knocked-out is how the three judges score it.
The competence of arbiters in the sport of boxing may always be questioned. Judging in boxing is never an exact science. It will never be. Judges may err, may screw up once in awhile. And indeed, one of the judges erred and screwed up during the first Pacquiao-Marquez fight. Who would ever forget about Burt Clements scoring the first round of that fight 10-7 instead of 10-6 thus enabling the talkative Mexican boxer to escape with a draw.
The truth is, no matter what people say, those were very close fights. It could have gone either way. What made the difference are the knockdowns scored by the Filipino fighter. Clearly, the Pacman gobbled up the Dynamite.
The question is… Is Marquez deserving to be given another shot at Pacquiao?
NO!!! It may be a fight that everybody wanted to see. But with the kind of disrespect the Mexican warrior has been showing to the honorable gentleman from Sarangani, no way that Pacquiao-Marquez III should be allowed to happen.
Wearing a shirt with those bold pronouncements, “Marquez beat Pacquiao twice,” is the latest of the many acts of disrespect committed by the fighter from Mexico.
Was it just a simple taunt in order to make Pacquiao bite the bait for another dance in the ring with him? It may be, but still it is an act unbecoming of a true warrior, if indeed he deserves to be called a Mexican warrior. A true warrior knows to accept defeat. Is Marquez aching to “break beaks” with Pacquiao to prove that he is the better fighter or is he simply salivating for a possible multi-million dollar paycheck that he could get only through Pacquiao.
To many ring warriors, it would be an honor to exchange leathers with a Manny Pacquiao. He is a respected boxing icon. Respect that he earned through sheer hardwork and humility. He richly deserves the accolades and the blessings he has now because he proved his worth by working his butts out in the gym. And despite his lofty status as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world and possibly the best boxer to have lived, he remained humble never forgetting to give the glory back to God.
The only boxer in the world who do not pay the respect that Pacquiao truly deserves is Marque. And why would Pacquiao give a disrespectful boxer a chance to fight him in the ring… a chance to bring home millions of dollars? NO WAY!
It is not a case of Pacquaio ducking Marquez… the PACMAN has fought EL DINAMITA twice already, and twice that Marquez’s dynamite went pfffttt.
If when Marquez comes to his senses and wear a shirt bearing the following pronouncements… “Pacquiao floored me 4 times, buckled my knees many times and beat me twice!”… that may be the time that the Pacman may give him the HONOR to fight him. But for as long as Marquez does not eat humble pie, PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ III should remain a dream.
Remember the Greek writer Aesop’s famous fable about a fox that cannot reach some grapes on a high vine? When the fox could not get the grapes, he said in exasperation that those grapes were sour. That’s the etymology of the expression “sour graping.” That’s what Marquez is doing. Marquez is that fox and the sweet grapes are not just the draw and the win Pacquiao scored against him but the latter’s achievements as a person and a ring warrior.
Never that Marquez will even come close to what the “Pambansang Kamao” achieved.
*Please refrain from leaving any Racist, Profane or Derogatory comments*
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