Marquez's knockout overhand right mirrors a Pacquiao left from 2008 (Round 10)

In the same spirit of the thread I made concerning Marquez's 3rd round knockdown shot that made an earlier appearance in their first bout, I wanted to talk about another parallel I found interesting. In the last big right Pacquiao ran into at the end of the 6th, Marquez reads the feinted jab Manny throws, knowing he's about to come in with the 1-2. He leans his head backwards, triggering Manny to think he's in line for the straight shots, and then displaces his upper body by changing levels (something Marquez has had continuous success with in the last two bouts), replacing it with his punch.

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In round 10 of their first rematch, Pacquiao lands a similar shot. This fight was the most competitive of the two IMO, but Manny needed that round badly. I had JMM winning the 6th, 7th (razor close), and I believe the 9th. Manny was cut and Marquez had him on a string, complimenting his counters with aggressive leads that confused the bleeding Pacquiao. But having improved his game a bit, Manny was now able to capitalize with a counter that won him the round. Marquez still dominated the last minute, countering off the ropes before regaining the center and having Manny's mouthpiece drop out as he continued to trickle blood from the eye, but this was Manny's most eye-catching shot of the bout aside from the knockdown.

Lo and behold, he used a very similar tactic to the one Marquez used. Without a successful use of feints, an opposite-stance aggressor is nearly always at a disadvantage, since he cedes lead foot positioning practically every-time he steps forward, allowing his opponent to anticipate and side-step as he comes in. In this case, Marquez was having so much success with lead left hooks up top, he rushed forward too wide without anything else behind it, and allowed Manny to change levels himself, diverting his upper body rightwards while stepping to the right and launching a looped overhand left. Marquez sputtered forward and Manny ended up almost completely behind him.

@ :38 seconds:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7noSRAxOxe8[/ame]

This just demonstrates how their similar height is so essential to the dynamic between the two. Any change in levels from one changes the target objective and visual awareness of the other. The end of the 5th of their last bout shows both hanging in the pocket and swinging, with many shots from down low coming from Manny as he ducked and traded while JMM moved along the ropes, which is something he showed in training.

Anyways, forgive the long-winded breakdown. Long story short, Manny landed a similar shot in the 10th round of their 2nd fight (obviously without the same leverage and success.) This was made into a GIF at some point at a better angle from the replay, so if anyone would like to dig it up and share, I'd appreciate it :bbb

EDIT: Found it, courtesy of Igor!

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I agree, the 1-2 telegraphs less, but then again, a single jab often sees Marquez counter with a left uppercut from down low or a slip/parry + right hand counter. Can't blame him for trying to mix it up, Juan is just usually a step ahead.

 

Manny anticipated Marquez's low ducking a lot better this time. He'd feint as if committing, and instead of falling in and allowing JMM to rip his body on the inside, he'd hang back and throw shorter, more accurate shots at JMM's already altered position. Marquez adjusted by slipping leftwards outside of the right jab instead of rightwards towards the inside, which is smarter given the trajectory of the straight left.

 

:thumbsup

Time and time again, Marquez has to wade into the eye of the storm, playing a game of inches to get his counters off.

 

Who's claiming they were identical? They were similar looping rear-handed shots that followed a step toward's each man's ideal direction and a re-positioning of the upper body.