Beware the Ides of March
Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C., as the Roman Empire lifetime dictator’s ambitions were thwarted by a group of senators in the theater of Pompey. “Et tu, Brute,” he croaked in pointing to one of his assailants. Caesar was stabbed by the so-called Liberatores who claimed they killed the “imperator” to preserve the republic from his clutches.
In the Roman calendar, the term “ides” was used for the 15th day of March, May, July and October and the 13th day of the other eight months. The Ides of March became known as the day when Caesar was killed and a portent of bad things to come.
On March 15, WBC superfeatherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez defends his crown against challenger Manny Pacquiao in a 12-round rematch at the Mandalay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
If Marquez is the king, then he is the Caesar whose claim to the throne seems shaky. It is Pacquiao issuing a warning to “beware the Ides of March” as he turns the Mandalay arena into his Pompey to end Marquez’ reign.
But it won’t be easy dethroning Marquez.
“The match itself is very dangerous for Manny,” said Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler, quoted by Don Stewart in The Ring Magazine. “He dropped the guy three times in the first round and had to fight for his life after that. You knock out that first round and probably, Marquez did more than Manny that first time. I think it’s his most dangerous fight.”
The consensus is Marquez has what it takes to neutralize Pacquiao’s speed and power. It’s his counterpunching style that makes it difficult for Pacquiao to unravel the arsenal that brought down Erik Morales twice in devastating fashion.
Even Pacquiao was impressed by Marquez’ skills.
However, that was four years ago and Marquez at 34 is older, slower and less proficient.
“What makes the rematch so intriguing is that these versions of Pacquiao and Marquez have evolved,” wrote Steve Kim in Boxing Digest Magazine. “Pacquiao is a more well-rounded, complete prizefighter. Marquez has become a more offensive-minded fighter, one who’s willing to take risks and mix it up.”
If Kim’s analysis is correct, Marquez will be a sitting duck in the rematch because if he elects to engage, Pacquiao will mow him down like a bulldozer.
The rap against Pacquiao is he looked vulnerable in his last two fights. It has raised the question of whether he is now over the hill.
“Punishment in and out of the ring could be taking a toll on his 29-year-old body,” said Stewart. “Last April, after facing his share of distractions and training disruptions, he got a tougher-than-expected challenge from previously unbeaten Jorge Solis who eventually fell in eight. Six months later, Pacquiao won a comfortable decision in his rematch with (Marco Antonio) Barrera, the same fighter he stopped impressively four years earlier. Part of the blame for Pacquiao’s pedestrian performance in the Barrera fight might have been his struggle to make the 130-pound limit.”
Telefura analyst Bernardo Osuna said Marquez isn’t out to just beat Pacquiao but also to rewrite boxing history.
“To do what Pacquiao has done against the best Mexican fighters of his generation speaks to his tenacity,” said Osuna. “The working man can’t help but love Manny. He’s not that charmed guy who has had everything handed to him on a platter. Marquez is coming into this fight with everything. He made all the concessions necessary for this fight. It’s a pride fight for Marquez. If he can avoid making the mistakes he made the first time around, I can’t see Manny evolving enough in the last four years to overcome Marquez’ boxing skills. It would definitely validate what he and many in the boxing world believe, that he was on par with Morales and Barrera but never got the chances that they got. Doing what they couldn’t do to Pacquiao would validate his career.”
Stewart predicted Marquez to win.
“Marquez won’t make the same mistakes he did early in the first fight,” he wrote. “He’ll outwork and outbox Pacquiao to earn a 12-round decision and the biggest win of his career though it might not be the blood-and-guts type of battle that will endear him to the next level as a mainstream star. Like many great artists, some fighters just seemed doomed to excel without ever breaking through. But when it’s time to talk about legacies and career significance, a win against Pacquiao will mean everything for Marquez.”
Kim said there’s no doubt that Marquez poses one of the greatest threats that exist for Pacquiao. “This is no tune-up bout,” he said even as Top Rank’s Bob Arum has announced fights against WBC lightweight champion David Diaz in June, probably in Macau, and Ricky Hatton in November, maybe in Dubai.
Source:philstar.com
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