Lucky punch? No way, says Nacho

HOUSTON – Trainer Nacho Beristain said it wasn’t a lucky punch that knocked out Manny Pacquiao and sent the Filipino tumbling down Ring Magazine’s pount-for-pound list.

The 73-year-old trainer of Juan Manuel Marquez said they didn’t win last Saturday’s fight at the MGM Grand by pure luck. He said they were rewarded for all the hard work.

“Some have said Marquez’ victory was the result of a lucky punch. Lucky? It was a punch that we practiced many times in the gym, and that this time it worked,” Beristain told www.boxingscene.com.

“There is a small group (of people) who not like us, who want to downgrade Juan Manuel’s achievements. We closed a lot of mouths with this victory,” he added.

Marquez landed the “lucky punch” with only a second left in the sixth round. When it came, both fighters have been down once, and the Mexican was down in the scorecards.

But he caught Pacquiao flush on the chin. Later on, Marquez described it as “the perfect punch.” Yes it was because it sent the Filipino superstar down for the first time in 13 years.

Pacquiao was not only knocked out. He was completely shut out.

It took Pacquiao more than a minute to regain his senses. The following day he said Marquez caught him with the punch he thought all along would be used against him.

“Even in training I knew Marquez would use that right straight against me,” said Pacquiao of the very same punch that always hurt him in his first three meetings with Marquez.

With the loss, Pacquiao dropped to No. 7 in Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound list. He used to be on top until Floyd Mayweather Jr. came out of retirement to regain his old post.

Mayweather remained at No. 1, now followed by Andre Ward at No. 2 and yes, Marquez at No. 3.

Rounding up the Top 10 are Sergio Martinez, Adrien Broner, Nonito Donaire Jr., Pacquiao, Wladmir Klitschko, Timothy Bradley and Robert Guerrero.

It was the first time a Filipino boxer, in this case Donaire, was listed on top of Pacquiao in Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound list.

For Pacquiao to regain his lofty billing, it may take a lot of time, perhaps a victory over Marquez, if and when they fight again, or if he beats Mayweather, if they ever fight at all.

Like Marquez, Beristain said he was concerned with Pacquiao after the knockout.

“The victory of Juan made me happy but at the same time (I was also thinking about) the Filipino’s health. He was not moving. His head hit the canvas. There was a thump and he was unconscious.

“He fell face first to the canvas. It’s a good thing that he recovered. Pacquiao is very strong. (But) Here in the gym Juan knocked someone out in sparring with an identical punch,” said Beristain.

It looked more like the perfect punch.