Was it a case of PAC having a lackluster night or Dinamita having a great night ?

It might have been a combination of both. The problem i have with saying it was just Pacquiao on a bad night, is that it's what i figured was the case against Mosley.

What do you mean by declined, as in physically or boxing IQ wise, or both ? I think Dumbquiao has declined physically, but, that's expected for someone his age. I think the handspeed is still there, but, the feet, he's more stationary now. He goes to the ropes more often, same with PBF. Mainly in his will to win. I'm not saying he's a quitter or anything, but he doesn't seem to have that savage instinct anymore. He used to get hit and clap his hands and jump up and down like an eight year old. He loved a good scrap. Now, he's all about touching gloves and carrying old men. When he faced a real fighter, he couldn't turn it back on.

I guess pacquiao had 3 off nights vs Marquez :boxing:

I didn't really buy that much into the improvements. At least, not since the second fight. There's an obvious difference from 2004 but...duh. I would argue that Pac has actually noticeably declined since their second fight.What do you mean by declined, as in physically or boxing IQ wise, or both ? I think Dumbquiao has declined physically, but, that's expected for someone his age. I think the handspeed is still there, but, the feet, he's more stationary now. He goes to the ropes more often, same with PBF.

I like your observation. For me, going into the fight, I thought Dinamita was gonna give him fits, but, the "new and improved" PAC and the way Dinamita looked in the Katsidis and Diaz fights, I thought it was just gonna be a matter of time before PAC to consistently gets at Dinamita. But, I really did not think that PAC was gonna make the simple mistakes he made in the previous 24 rounds, but, he did, and that's why the fight ended the way it did. I didn't really buy that much into the improvements. At least, not since the second fight. There's an obvious difference from 2004 but...duh. I would argue that Pac has actually noticeably declined since their second fight.

I've always viewed Marquez as more of a stationary counter puncher, but he moved very well here, he pretty much did a little bit of what Mosley did.

I voted option one, but it's not like he came in and blew anyone who knew what to expect away. So he had a great night, but because he's a great fighter. Not because he out-performed himself in any way.I like your observation. For me, going into the fight, I thought Dinamita was gonna give him fits, but, the "new and improved" PAC and the way Dinamita looked in the Katsidis and Diaz fights, I thought it was just gonna be a matter of time before PAC to consistently gets at Dinamita. But, I really did not think that PAC was gonna make the simple mistakes he made in the previous 24 rounds, but, he did, and that's why the fight ended the way it did.

I voted option one, but it's not like he came in and blew anyone who knew what to expect away. So he had a great night, but because he's a great fighter. Not because he out-performed himself in any way.