2012 best knockout: Panalo ni Marquez kay Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Ang right hand counter ni Juan Manuel Marquez na nagpatulog kay Filipino world eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao sa kanilang pang-apat na paghaharap noong Disyembre 8 ang itinanghal na 2012 Best Knockout ng ESPN.com

“If any 2012 knockout was better than Marquez’s finish of Pacquiao, none was bigger,” sabi ni Dan Rafael ng ESPN.com, nauna nang kumilala kay unified world super bantamweight king Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr. bilang 2012 Fighter of the Year.

Ang naturang suntok ng 39-anyos na si Marquez sa huling segundo ng sixth round ang nagpabagsak na una ang mukha sa 34-anyos na si Pacquiao.

Ilang minutong nanatiling nakahiga at hindi gumagalaw ang Sarangani Congressman kung saan nagpumiglas ang kanyang asawang si Jinkee para makaakyat ng boxing ring ngunit pinigil ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions.

Sa kanilang ikatlong paghaharap noong Nobyembre ng 2011 ay isang majority decision win ang nakamit ni Pacquiao na mariing tinuligsa ni Marquez.

“When Pacquiao agreed to fight Marquez for the fourth time on December 8 at the MGM Grand, he said the key reason was because so many people had doubts about the previous outcomes,” sabi ni Rafael.

“Heading into the fourth fight... both men promised to be more aggressive and go for the knockout. They were desperate for a definitive result. Neither wanted to leave it in the hands of the judges again,” dagdag pa nito.

Sa naturang ikaapat nilang paghaharap, naging agresibo si Pacquiao na determinadong pabagsakin si Marquez, apat na buwan na nagsanay at nagpalaki ng kanyang katawan.

“Pacquiao and Marquez lived up to their promise and put on the best fight of their epic series, which delivered as definitive an outcome as possible: Marquez landing a picture-perfect right hand that knocked Pacquiao out cold with one second left in the sixth round,” ani Rafael.