Juan Manuel Marquez-Manny Pacquiao V Most Wished for by Fans

Clarence George According to ******.com’s ongoing poll, the fight 33.8% of the fans most want in 2013 is Juan Manuel Marquez-Manny Pacquiao V. Marquez, 39 (55-6-1, 40 KOs), became a pro in 1993. He’s second-ranked by Ring as welter and third-ranked on the pound-for-pound list. Thirty-four-year-old Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) first stepped between the ropes in 1995. He’s fourth-ranked as welter and seventh as pound-for-pounder. The two last fought on December 8, 2012. The Mexican stopped the Filipino via knockout in the sixth – KO, Round, Fight, and Event of the Year, according to ******.com’s year-end poll. Despite the objections of the fighters’ loved ones, who want the guys to retire, the fight is indeed likely to take place. Coming in second, say 21.6% of the poll’s respondents, is Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Sergio Martinez at junior middleweight. Undefeated Mayweather (43-0-0, 26 KOs), who’ll turn 36 next month, is the WBC welterweight champ, first-ranked by Ring, and the WBA junior middleweight champ, also first-ranked. He holds first place on Ring’s pound-for-pound list. A pro since 1996, “Money” last fought in May 2012, beating Miguel Cotto by unanimous decision. Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KOs), who’ll turn 38 in February and had his professional debut in 1997, is Ring and WBC middleweight champ, fourth-ranked on Ring’s pound-for-pound list. His most recent fight was in September, winning by unanimous decision against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. “Maravilla” is scheduled to take on Martin Murray in April. Mayweather vs. Martinez is improbable, at least in 2013. “Money”, who’s fought only once a year since 2009, has promised fans two bouts this year – on May 4 and September 14. But welterweight star Robert Guerrero (in May) and WBC junior middleweight champ Saul Alvarez (four months later) appear to be far likelier opponents than Martinez. Still, as Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe observes, his fighter “has a plethora of options”…including the Argentine. In third place, with 20.2% of the vote, is Nonito Donaire vs. Abner Mares. Donaire, 30 (31-1-0, 20 KOs), is Ring, WBO, and IBF junior featherweight champ, fifth on Ring’s pound-for-pound list. He’s also Fighter of the Year, according to the ******.com year-end poll. A 12-year veteran, “The Filipino Flash” last fought on December 15, defeating Jorge Arce by third-round KO. Second-ranked Mares, 27 (25-0-1, 13 KOs), is the WBC junior featherweight titlist. A pro since 2005, Mares most recently fought in November, beating Anselmo Moreno by unanimous decision. Donaire vs. Mares? Not going to happen. The Filipino is promoted by Top Rank and the Mexican by Golden Boy – the Hatfields and McCoys are blood brothers compared with those promotional companies. Well, one out of three ain’t bad.