And that's that.
With one crushing blow, Manny Pacquiao was out cold. With one crushing blow, the people of the Philippines were out cold, as well. In a sport where crushing blows sell fights and end fights, it only took one to write history. It had all the makings of a classic. Two of the best pound-for-pound fighters slugging it out, their respective countries on their backs. Pacquiao-Marquez 4 was supposed to be the end. It ended in spectacular fashion but it also started another round of the blame game.
Blame Manny. Blame Jinkee. Blame Freddie. Blame Buboy. Blame Ariza. Blame Chavit. Blame his entourage. Blame his new beliefs. Blame his extra-curricular activities. Blame Philippine politics. Blame Floyd. Heck, let's blame Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley and the rest of the NBA. Maybe we should blame one or all of them. Maybe we shouldn't. But if I had to put the blame on something, it would be Juan Manuel Marquez's right fist. His right fist that seemed to have a vendetta, a score to settle with Pacquiao. His right fist that carried 8 years full of anger, frustration and pain. His last-second punch was so strong, it felt like we were all face down on the canvas. Maybe we were and to some extent, maybe we still are.
Through 5 rounds, I had Pacquiao ahead by a close 48-45. Each fighter had been knocked down, Pacquiao in the 3rd round and Marquez in the 5th. The Mexican already had, what it seemed like, a broken nose, courtesy of the Sarangani province Representative. With seconds left, I had Pacquiao winning the 6th round. Seconds later, it was over. Juan Manuel Marquez finally got the monkey off his back. While he is now feeling the effects of Manny Pacquiao's punches, the pain is a far second to the jubilation and relief of finally and officially beating the man. For six rounds, we were witnesses to what boxing should be. If Marquez had failed to connect on that last punch, we would probably be witnesses to one of the greatest fights ever. For the warrior from Mexico City, it probably already is.
And all it took was one crushing blow.
