Marquez hints of ending career with Pacquiao KO

CEBU, Philippines - Like Manny Pacquiao, Mexican punching dynamo Juan Manuel Marquez is also aching for a definitive end to their epic rivalry.

And Marquez is hell-bent on delivering it in a swift and decisive manner.

Marquez said he will go all-out for a knockout victory against Pacquiao when they clash in the ring for the fourth time on December 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In a report by Miguel Rivera of boxingscene.com, Marquez has indicated that he's not only looking for a win. He's also seeking for a splendid closure to his glorious fistic career.

"I want to knock him out. I know I can do it, although I know that it won't be easy. I want to have my hand raised to prove which of us is the better fighter. I've already beaten him three times and had those victories taken from me," said Marquez.

"A knockout is the only way to take [the decision] from the judges' hands . If that [knockout] happens, it could be the perfect moment [to retire] but we will see what happens," added Marquez in the same internet report.

During their first meeting in 2004, Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) dropped Marquez (54-6-1, 39KOs) on the canvas three times, but the Mexican showed great recuperative powers to forge a draw. Pacquiao won by split decision during their hotly-contensted rematch in 2008 and again by majority decision last year.

Marquez and many fans still believe he won all three fights, while Pacquiao says he clearly won the last two.

Nevertheless, Pacquiao and Marquez will join the short list of rivalries that couldn't be contained by a mere trilogy, including Sugar Ray Robinson's six fights with Jake LaMotta and Robinson's four bouts with Gene Fullmer.

More recently, Israel Vazquez's sensational rivalry with Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel's brother, extended to four fights, concluding with Marquez's third-round stoppage of Vazquez in May 2010.

Team Balbona clinches top honors in PICPA chessfest

Team Balbona bested seven other squads to rule the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Invitational Chess Team Tournament over the weekend at the J Centre Mall along A.S. Fortuna Street, this city.

Team Balbona, manned by Merben Roque and the Balbona siblings Felix Shaun, Felix and Jessa, finished the five-round Swiss system competition with the highest output of 20.5 points to take home the P10,000 champion's purse.

Chess Infinitum came out second after outsmarting the University of San Carlos (USC) via tie-breaker based on board 1 results.

Skyscraper Vital C landed at fourth place with 18.0 points, while the fifth to eighth spots went to M Team with 15 points, OPASCOR with 9.5 points, CEPCA with 7.5 points and RP Mora with 4.5 points.— Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (FREEMAN)