Tonight in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Manny Pacquiao earned a narrow majority decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez to retain his WBO welter weight title in a contest no less thrilling that their first 2 epic encounters.  Marquez had plenty of successful moments, but they just were not enough to dethrone the Pac Man.

 

The fight began at a measured pace, with both combatants not looking to take too many risks too early on.  Pac worked the jab to the body, while Marquez remained disciplined and cautious looking to land his trademark counter shots.  Marquez was working the classsic Nacho Beristein uppercuts and left hooks, while Pac was trying to use his right hand as much as possible.  Pacquiao's left hand began to find its target in the 4th, and Marquez was finding success with his straight right.

 

Round 5 saw Marquez really coming on, landing the shots he'd been throwing thus far: the left hook, the straight right, and the uppercut.  The middle portion of the fight appeared to be controlled by Marquez, despite the fact that the fighters were beginning to trade more.  One would think the reckless nature of that strategy would favor the harder hitting Pacman, but Marquez fought intelligently, picking his shots.  As the furious pace continued though, Marquez would show signs of fatigue in the 8th as the fight returned to a slower pace.

 

The 9th round set the tone for the remainder of the bout.  Marquez pressed Pacquiao in a thrilling slugfest that saw Pacquiao start to get the better of the exchanges.  Both men knew the fight was within each of their reaches, and both went for it in their typical warrior fashion.  Pac looked to tire a bit down the stretch in the championship rounds, but he had banked enough rounds earlier in the fight to prevail. 

 

With the win, Pacquiao keeps his WBO welter weight strap, and moves to 54-3-2, 38 KOs and a potential spring mega fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.  Marquez drops to 52-6-1, 38 KOs and his future would appear to seem uncertain.

 

Undercard

 

Top Rank put together a great show this evening featuring an entertaining undercard.  To open the PPV televised portion of the evening, Mexico's Juan Carlos Burgos upset rising Puerto Rican prospect Luis Cruz via majority decision over 10 close rounds winning the WBC Silver Junior Lightweight belt.  Scores were 95-95, then 97-93 and 98-92 for Burgos.  With the win he moves to 28-1, 19 KOs, while Cruz saw his first loss and now stands at 19-1, 15 KOs.

 

Undefeated Denver native Mike Alvarado picked up the IBF Latino Junior Welterweight belt with a TKO win over Colombian Breidis Prescott at 1:53 of the 10th round.  Alvarado remains undefeated at 32-0, 23 KOs, while Prescott falls to 24-4, 19 KOs.

 

New Top Rank fighter Timothy Bradley of Palm Springs, CA retained his WBO junior welter weight title with a hard fought 8 round TKO over rugged Cuban veteran Joel Casamayor.  Casamayor looked to spoil and hold and Bradley looked to make a statement.  Casamayor held so much he was deducted a point for it in round 4.  He didn't find any additional success as Bradley unleased a vicious body attack, dropping the aging veteran in the 5th, 6th, and finally the 8th when the fight was called to a halt.  Bradley improves to 28-0, 12 KOs, while Casamayor should consider retirement as he now stands at 38-6-1, 22 KOs.