Arum foresees historic trilogy

MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank chairman Bob Arum called the third meeting between WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Juan Manuel Marquez a climactic end to an exciting trilogy that will go down in boxing history as one of the most gripping three-fight duels ever.

Pacquiao and Marquez slug it out in their third encounter in Las Vegas on Nov. 12. Their first meeting ended in a split draw in 2004 when they battled within the featherweight limit of 126. Pacquiao, however, should’ve won by a split decision if only judge Burt Clements didn’t make a mistake in scoring the first round 10-7 instead of 10-6 to account for Marquez’ three knockdowns. In 2008, the archrivals clashed in a rematch and Pacquiao eked out a split decision, buoyed by a knockdown in the third round. They fought within the superfeatherweight limit of 130 pounds.

For the third face-off, Pacquiao’s WBO 147-pound title will be at stake but the fighters agreed to a catchweight limit of 144 pounds. Marquez, the WBC lightweight champion, is jumping over the lightwelterweight division for the chance to earn a guaranteed paycheck of $5 Million in fighting Pacquiao.

“Their first two fights were close and people had different views on who deserved to win,” said Arum during a visit to Manila last week to kick off the World Press Tour for the Nov. 12 bout. “No two fights between the same two fighters could’ve been closer. They were as close as you could get. Some fans think Manny won both fights but barely. Marquez, of course, thinks he won both. Finally, the third fight will once and for all settle who’s s the better guy.”

Arum said Muhammad Ali figured in two memorable trilogies with Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. “Ali lost the first fight to Frazier and won the next two, the last on a stoppage in the Thrilla in Manila,” he said. “The second fight was close just like the first where Ali went down. In the Thrilla, Frazier wasn’t allowed to come out and their trilogy will long be remembered.”

Arum said he promoted the three Ali-Norton fights. “Ken broke Ali’s jaw in the first fight and won,” continued Arum. “But Ali came back to win the next two, both on points. There was something about Norton that made it difficult for Ali to beat him. It’s like Marquez with Manny. In Zaire, Ali outfought and knocked out George Foreman but Foreman destroyed Norton. It’s part of the axiom in boxing that styles make fights. I think Marquez, being a great counter-puncher, has the style that can defeat Manny.”

Marquez will only be the second fighter to engage Pacquiao thrice. The first was Erik Morales who decisioned Pacquiao in 2005 and the Filipino icon hasn’t lost since. Pacquiao avenged the setback by halting Morales twice.

The first Ali-Frazier bout was held at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Both were unbeaten. In the final round, Smokin’ Joe floored Ali and ran away with a unanimous decision. In 1974, Ali won the rematch. And in 1975, Ali took the rubber match when trainer Eddie Futch refused to allow Frazier out for the 14th round. Ali later said the fight in Manila was the closest thing to death that he had ever experienced.

Norton upset Ali on a split decision in their initial encounter in 1973. Later that year, Ali beat the former Marine on a split decision. In 1976, they met for a third bout at Yankee Stadium and Ali managed to win the last round on all three scorecards to clinch a unanimous but controversial verdict.

Other historic boxing trilogies involved Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano, Roberto Duran and Esteban DeJesus, Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson, Emile Griffith and Benny (Kid) Paret, Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield, Carlos Ortiz and Ismael Laguna, Michael Carbajal and Humberto Gonzalez and Nino Benvenuti and Emile Griffith.

Arum said he expects the third fight between Pacquiao and Marquez to surpass 1.5 million pay-per-view hits. “It’ll be the biggest Manny fight on pay-per-view, going over the 1.4 million for the (Sugar Shane) Mosley fight,” said Arum. “It should be well over 1.5 million, what with HBO going all out to promote it and the World Press Tour that started in Manila.”