- Title: USA: BOXING: Reactions after Marquez knocks out Pacquiao in sixth round
- Date: 9th December 2012
- Summary: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 8, 2012) (REUTERS) MARQUEZ POST-FIGHT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ SAYING: "This victory, I think, the revolution makes justice for us and this victory is not only my victory, this victory is for the entire country of Mexico. I feel very, very happy" JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ SAYING: "I
- Embargoed: 24th December 2012 12:00
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- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVABFUGZPVGCAYPD1Y2TNC9EESVL
- Story Text: Juan Manuel Marquez knocks out Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round to beating him for the first time in four fights.
Juan Manuel Marquez threw a "perfect punch" to knock out Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round of their non-title welterweight bout on Saturday (December 8), earning his first win over the Filipino in four attempts.
Before the fight some of Pacquiao's fans said he was a hero in the Philippines and one of a kind.
In the ring, four-division world champion Marquez, who had his nose broken by Pacquiao, put the Filipino down in the third, then went down himself in the fifth.
The 39-year-old, who had lost twice and drawn once in their three previous meetings, sent Pacquiao crashing to the canvas with a stinging right hand with one second left in a bruising round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Filipino southpaw fell face first and lay motionless for a couple of minutes before being helped to his corner where he sat on a stool as his gloves were removed.
Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, was later taken to the nearby University Medical Center hospital for a precautionary CAT scan.
After the fight Marquez said: "This victory, I think, the revolution makes justice for us, and this victory is not only my victory, this victory is for the entire country of Mexico. I feel very, very happy."
"I believe I'm very happy that I didn't retire. Yes, I was going to retire last year, and now I'm very happy I won it, the referee to raise my hand and now I feel great that I am not out in this fight against Manny, and I live not out in the way my victory became, so I'm happy that I didn't retire last year," added the Mexican after improving his record to 55-6-1 with 40 knockouts.
Fight promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao's wife Jinkee had been concerned when he was knocked out.
Trainer Freddie Roach said it wasn't the end of the boxer's career.
"I don't think so, I don't think it's the end of Manny Pacquiao, no. I was just talking to him before he went to the hospital, he's fine, he knows he walked into a punch, he made a mistake and he got careless and you know, that happens in boxing, I mean, it's not the first time we've been knocked out and it's not the first time we'll come back from a loss, it'll be a lot of hard work, but I'm sure if everything goes well, he'll be fine."
Arum also said journalists should know that losing one fight or game is not the end of a career and Pacquiao could still be "marketable".
Saturday's all-action contest, which featured three knockdowns in just under six rounds before the sensational conclusion, was unquestionably the most exciting of the four between the fighters.
The two boxers battled to a draw in May 2004 before Marquez lost his WBC super-featherweight crown to Pacquiao in a controversial one-point split decision in March 2008.
When they met for a third time, in November 2011, Pacquiao narrowly retained his WBO welterweight title with a controversial majority decision that was greeted by loud booing from disgruntled Marquez fans. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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