It's fourth time lucky for Marquez as Mexican veteran stops Pacquiao in the sixth with knockout blow

By MIKE DAWES

Juan Manuel Marquez sensationally knocked out Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round of their non-title welterweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning, earning his first win over the Filipino in four attempts.

The 39-year-old Mexican, 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 the round.

Knockout blow: Marquez celebrates after stopping Pacquiao in the sixth round

The Filipino southpaw fell face first and remained motionless for several minutes before finally getting up, smiling at Marquez and then shaking his opponent's hand in middle of the ring.

'We knew it was going to be a very difficult fight but we knew it was possible to win,' a beaming Marquez said ringside after improving his record to 55-6-1 with 40 knockouts.

'I threw a perfect punch,' Marquez added. 'I knew Manny could knock me out at any time.' 

Stunning shot: Marquez lands the bout-winning right hand in the sixth

Knockout blow: Marquez lands the bout-winning right hand in the sixth

'I felt he was coming to knock me out the last three rounds and I knew he was going to be wide open.'

Pacquiao, who had been knocked down in the third round, sent Marquez to the floor in the fifth and looked to be getting the better of the fight until the stunning knockout.

'He's not an easy opponent,' Pacquiao said after slipping to 54-5-2 with 38 knockouts.

The PacMan: Pacquiao makes his way out to the ring

 

'I did my best. I know that I got him in the last couple of rounds but I started to be over-confident and I got hit by a solid punch. I did not expect that punch.

'I got hit by a punch I didn't see.' 

Promoter Bob Arum immediately said he could see a fifth fight between the two boxers, and a dazed Pacquiao agreed. 

'Why not?' he said.

Sighter: Pacquiao lands a left in the first round

Smiles better: Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (right) was in the crowd

On the charge: Marquez takes the attack to Pacquiao

Floored: Pacquiao hits the canvas after Marquez connects with a right in the third

 

 

Watched by a sell-out crowd of 16,000 that included former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and basketball great Magic Johnson, the two fighters made an energetic start with Pacquiao establishing a slight advantage through his lightning left jabs.

The Filipino caught the Mexican on the chin with a crunching left in the second round and dominated early in the third with his nimble footwork before he was sent to the canvas by a Marquez right hook.

Toe-to-toe: Both fighters were intent on attacking

Old acquaintances: The pair were meeting for the fourth time in their careers

This was the second loss in a row for Pacquiao, who dropped a contentious decision to Timothy Bradley in June and had vowed to regain his prominence in the ring. 

'He was in charge,' Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach said. 'He just got a little too careless and got hit with a punch he didn't see.'

False dawn: Marquez had a wobble in the fifth after a left jab from Pacquiao

Aside from the widely discredited Bradley decision, this was the first defeat by Pacquiao since 2005 when he lost a unanimous decision to Erik Morales. It was only the third time he had been stopped, having suffered a knockout and a TKO early in his career. 

It was the first time Pacquiao had been knocked down by Marquez in 39 rounds contested by the fighters.

Floored: Pacquiao was face down on the canvas for some time

The Filipino responded with a flurry of combinations in the fourth round, then dropped Marquez with a straight left in the fifth and the Mexican ended that round with a bloodied nose after being pinned against the ropes.

Pacquiao continued to dictate the pace, repeatedly forcing the Mexican to back-peddle before the Filipino was knocked out late in the sixth round by a rasping Marquez right.

Job done: Marquez celebrates his victory