Marquez will not last 4 rounds vs Pacquiao, says Gerry Peñalosa

Unlike their two previous encounters, Manny Pacquiao’s third meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez is going to be quick and easy. At least in the eyes of former two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa, the 12-round bout for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on November 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas will be a short night for Pacman. He sees the third fight between the two not lasting more than four rounds. “Hindi yan tatagal ng three rounds," said Peñalosa when GMA News Online caught up with him Monday afternoon during the launch of his nephew Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr’s August 6 fight with Kong Kiatpracha Gym of Thailand at the 17th floor of GMA Network Center. The 38-year-old Peñalosa, who comes from a well-known family of boxers from San Carlos, Negros Occidental, is a known close friend of the world’s top pound-for-pound boxer. “Pag nagkataon, baka pumusta pa ako, first, second, third round. Pero hanggang doon lang," he added. He pointed out Marquez’s decision to move up in weight could spell the big difference in the fight. From the lightweight division, Marquez needs to bulk up as a welterweight - an additional nine pounds - to meet the catch-weight of 144 lbs. “Mabagal na siya pag-akyat ng welterweight, at yung power niya, siguradong mababawasan," said Peñalosa, the former World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight champion and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title holder. Marquez’s previous attempt to fight as a welterweight wasn't successful, as he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in lopsided affair after 12 full rounds in a 2009 non-title match. After that experience, the Mexican opted to return at lightweight and enjoyed immense success with convincing victories over Juan "The Baby Bull" Diaz and Australian Michael Katsidis. But his decision to fight again as a welterweight against Pacquiao, an opponent that has maintained his power and speed at 144 lbs, might end up the same way it did in the Mayweather bout. "Ilang beses pina-bagsak ni Manny si Marquez?" Peñalosa asked. He continued to enumerate the Mexican’s three knockdowns in their first meeting as a featherweight, and then another one in their rematch at super-featherweight. “Manny was able to retain that power and speed kahit na umakyat siya ng timbang. So just imagine how Marquez will be able to handle him as a welterweight," Peñalosa added. Pacquiao and Marquez had a controversial draw in their 2004 encounter despite the Filipino sending his Mexican foe down the canvass three times in the opening round. In 2008, Pacman escaped with a debatable split decision in their rematch that highlighted a third round knockdown by the southpaw from General Santos City. -- RAF/OMG, GMA News