Marquez deserves another shot at Pacquiao

THE WAY Juan Manuel Marquez slowly softened and eventually demolished Ring Magazine champion Joel Casamayor today all the more convinced me that the Mexican champion is the real measure of Manny Pacquiao's true worth.

Like a number of Pinoy boxing pundits, I happen to believe that Marquez was the real winner in their last fight, which was replayed on a bus VCD player on my way to Naga from Libon, Albay.

I watched today's fight at our home in Sagrada, together with my wife, my father and younger brother, all of whom are Pacquiao fans and avid boxing enthusiasts.

Actually, I was looking forward to a win on points by either fighter, and did not expect Marquez to knock Casamayor out, given the latter's own skills worthy of an former Olympic champ of Cuban heritage when they were still the best of the amateur boxing world.

But the closing seconds of the 11th round gave Marquez the opportunity to cash in on the barrage of combinations he sent Casamayor's way, and fashion a scintillating knockout win that is the first thorough defeat inflicted on the Cuban champ.

Win or lose against Oscar de la Hoya, Pacquiao cannot retire without fighting Marquez for the third and hopefully final time.  The final episode of this new trilogy will help conclusively settle the issue as to who is really better -- and put to rest nagging doubts about their bout last March that fortunately went Pacquiao's way by the narrowest of margins.