Push Admin

Juan Manuel Marquez calls KO win over Pacquiao 'divine justice'

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/12/27/juanma.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Juan Manuel Marquez didn&#x27;t oblige Manny Pacquiao for a fifth fight because the Mexican champion thought he won the fourth convincingly. Photo by Top Rank&#x27;s Chris Farina</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — Four years after flooring Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez still can&#x27;t stop gloating.Marquez acknowledged he had grown tired of what he claimed was &quot;robbery&quot; committed by Pacquiao&#x27;s camp in their first three bouts.That&#x27;s why he called his knockout win over Pacquiao on December 8, 2012 &quot;divine justice.&quot;Marquez reflected on his battles with Pacquiao, the first three of which the Mexican said could&#x27;ve gone his way.Marquez and Pacquiao fought to a much-disputed draw in 2004, before Pacquiao walked away with wins in 2008 (split decision) and 2011 (majority decision). Marquez had the last laugh in 2012 by dropping Pacquiao with a vicious counter straight that knocked the lights out of the Filipino champion in the sixth round.&quot;I can only say that it was divine justice. Everyone saw the previous fights, and in the end I won in the most clear and forceful way,” Marquez said in a report posted on <a href="http://www.boxingscene.com/marquez-on-pacquiao-ko-i-said-now-try-steal-it-from-me--112119" target="_blank">BoxingScene.com</a>. Pacquiao demanded a fifth fight, but Marquez said &quot;it was no longer required.&quot;Marquez said he would have granted Pacquiao another bout if the outcome in 2012 had not been as decisive as their previous bouts.But upon seeing Pacquiao face down on the canvass, he had no doubt that his nemesis had been thoroughly beaten.&quot;If the fourth (fight) had been just as controversial as the previous ones, I would have personally signed on for the fifth, because I would not have felt good about myself,&quot; Pacquiao said. &quot;But there was no doubt (about the ending). When I saw Manny lying on the canvas, I said, &#x27;Now try to steal it from me if you can.&#x27; &quot;Pacquiao has had a more than decent run after that loss. He pocketed the richest purse of his career when he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2015, then recaptured the world welterweight championship in November.Marquez, meanwhile, has been inactive for 3-and-a-half years. He had been negotiating to fight Miguel Cotto, but nothing concrete has come out of the talks.For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

Four years after flooring Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez still can't stop gloating.