With today's announcement that HBO has been selected as the network to distribute the highly-anticipated November 12 match-up between pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao and lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez, the final hurdle has been cleared and all systems are go for the third and final installment between the two rivals in the ring. In fact, according to sources, it was just a couple of days ago when Pacquiao finally signed his contract for the bout after previously being advised not to by his new accounting firm, VisionQwest, when some questions were raised regarding his guaranteed purse. Evidently, that issue was also sorted out and after Pacquiao put pen to paper yesterday, Michael Koncz promptly boarded an airplane to retun to the United States with contract in hand.
Throughout Manny Pacquiao's Hall of Fame career, Juan Manuel Marquez has proven to be his most difficult challenge thus far. So much so, in fact, that Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, has been reluctant to agree to the fight in the past. "I was one that postponed this fight, or suggested to Manny that we hold off on this fight for awhile because there's the old saying that styles make fights, but then also styles break fights. My opinion, for some reason, Marquez has Manny figured out," Koncz would reveal in a recent interview featured on Manny Pacquiao's official website, MP8.ph.
It's a valid point that Koncz brings up considering that, after 24 rounds which saw Marquez hit the deck a total of 4 times, the best that Pacquiao could walk away with was a draw and a controversial split decision that many felt Marquez actually won. "He's the only boxer that I know of that's been down 4 times and then got back up. So, you know, initially, I believe it's going to be a very competitive fight and perhaps with controversy," Koncz continued.
The third time around, however, may produce a drastically different outcome as Pacquiao has gotten bigger and better since their last encounter back in 2008, moving up and winning titles in 4 different weight classes whereas Marquez has stayed at the lower weight and has only been successful moving up one division higher. The one time that Marquez did test the waters at a higher weight class, he was soundly defeated by pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather, losing nearly every round during the process. Although his fight with Pacquiao will take place at a catchweight of 144 pounds, there will be no mistaking who the bigger and more powerful fighter is come fight night.
[ Follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @fighthype ]