Pacman’s rebuke to critics: Tape shows I clearly won

Los Angeles—Manny Pacquiao arrived yesterday morning still convinced he won his hotly-debated bout against rival Juan Manuel Marquez, saying he studied fight tapes carefully before making the road trip from Las Vegas.

“I watched the tape twice, including the slo-mo replays,” Pacquiao said. “It’s clear I won.”

Pacquiao and Marquez fought 12 more rounds—bringing to 36 the number of three-minute slugfests they have engaged in during their compelling rivalry—Saturday at the Garden Arena of the MGM Grand, which ended in a majority decision for the Filipino congressman from Sarangani province.

The result drew a tremor of boos from the crowd—and scathing rebukes in print and online after the match—and created even more questions for a match that was supposed to definitively quash all doubts in the first place.

Judge Glenn Townbridge saw it 116-112 for Pacquiao. Dave Moretti had it 115-113 for the pound-for-pound king whose reign in boxing’s mythical throne is standing on shaky ground. Robert Hoyle scored it 114-114.

“Anyone can argue, but I won,” said Pacquiao.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum also said he was convinced Pacquiao won after watching the replays.

Marquez claimed he was robbed yet another time after two previous, equally close bouts.

The first time they met, the Mexican counterpuncher rose from three knockdowns to forge a draw. The second time, Pacquiao scored a crucial knockdown in the third round to hammer out a split decision.

Those two close bouts were exactly the reasons why this third fight was forged.

And with the same result in what was supposed to be a decider, a fourth installment is in the works, putting in peril even a planned superbout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“I’m amenable to a fourth fight,” Pacquiao said. “At least, I know my opponent even better.”

Arum said he wants a fourth fight, too, if only to finally find a “definitive winner between the two.”

Trainer Freddie Roach said a fourth fight wasn’t something he wanted to do, but it it was a bout he “might have to do.”  /inquirer