Manny Pacquiao has been involved in numerous legendary fights, from Mayweather to Hatton and Morales to Thurman, but there was one man who Pacquiao grew to know like no other.
Manny Pacquiao is set to return to the ring against Mario Barrios on July 19th, after four years out of the ring, and six years since his last victory.
Pacquiao will be 46 years old at the time of the fight, and is expected by many to lose despite his legendary status.
One man who did get the better of Pacquiao in his prime, though, was a man whose rivalry with the Filipino ignited all the way back in 2004.
Manny Pacquiao’s quadrilogy with Juan Manuel Marquez ended with a bang
In 2004, at just 125 pounds, Pacquiao faced Marquez for the first time with Marquez’s IBF and WBA featherweight titles on the line, and Pacquiao’s Ring belt.
The fight was extremely close, ending in a split decision draw, and the pair didn’t face off again until four years later.
In the second fight, a knockdown of Marquez in round 3 was Pacquiao’s saving grace, as he won the fight by split decision. Without the knockdown Pacquiao would’ve faced another draw with his rival.
Pacquiao, who lost to Nedal Hussein, secured a win once more in the third instalment of their fight – in yet another close fight, this time winning by majority decision.
With the trilogy amounting to 2 wins to Pacquiao and one draw, you’d think the case was closed, but another fight finally gave Marquez the chance he needed.
In 2012, Pacquiao and Marquez, who drank urine ahead of his fight with Floyd Mayweather, fought for the final time at 147 pounds now.
Marquez knocked Pacquiao down in round three, and Pacquiao returned the favor in round five. Though up on the scorecards going into round six, Marquez would pull out a huge right hand that crumpled Pacquiao, sending him to the canvas like a ton of bricks.
Though Pacquiao ended the quadrilogy 2-1, the knockout was one that nobody will forget.
Manny Pacquiao KO’d just 3 men in the last 16 years
Pacquiao fought 19 times in the last 16 years, winning 14 of them, but was only able to knock out three men:
2009 – Ricky Hatton – KO2
2009 – Miguel Cotto – TKO12
2018 – Lucas Matthysse – TKO7