MANNY PACQUIAO vs. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ (1) AUTO 

Description : Here we have an authentic Manny Pacquiao & Juan Manuel Marquez autographed original HBO boxing closed circuit fight poster for the WBA/IBF & Ring Magazine World featherweight championship title bout held at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 8th May 2004.

After his stunning upset victory over Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, the filipino phenom was pitched straight in against the reigning & defending Mexican WBA/IBF featherweight boss Marquez. The fight began with both boxers exhibiting the nervous energy most likely experienced by everyone in the arena. Marquez landed his first counters, sending Pacquiao back on his heels briefly. But his success would be short-lived, as midway through the round Pacquiao scored with a stiff left, sending the champion to the seat of his pants. Seconds after rising, Marquez went down again and the crowd erupted. Rising to his feet once more, Marquez, with too much pride to give ground, came right back at Pacquiao, who sent him sprawling to the ropes with yet another left. Though hoisted up by the ropes, Marquez was punched again and went down. He rose at the count of eight and continued to stand in front of the "Pac-Man," who was unable to put Marquez down for the count in the opening frame. "There was not enough time," said Pacquiao.

Already in a likely five-point hole, Marquez had to pick up the pace in the third, and he started to dig to Pacquiao's body in hopes of slowing the Filipino bomber down. And even though Marquez was able to score fairly effectively in the round, when Pacquiao started his pendulum-swinging movement from side to side as he moved forward, there was danger in the air. Landing his best shot of the fight in the fifth, a jarring right to the jaw, Marquez moved forward confidently, only to be sent back into counterpunching mode seconds later by a couple of Pacquiao bombs. But in the final 30 seconds, both fighters let it go, and Marquez came out on top, opening a cut on Pacquiao's right eyelid. Marquez varied his arsenal in the seventh, shooting hooks and crosses to the head and body as Pacquiao seemed taken aback, not only by Marquez' attack, but by his resilience. Both warriors exchanged hostilities in the final minute, and by the end of the round, Pacquiao's lefts were being met by Marquez rights, both producing the type of facial damage only experienced by real fighters in real fights.

Again in the 10th, both fighters nervously hopped around each other until the first shot landed, then the war began again. And this time, Pacquiao's left found a home with regularity, not hurting Marquez, but jarring him enough to score points. The power shots continued to find their marks for both men in round 11, but at this point of the bout, neither proud man would give the other the satisfaction of going down or looking hurt. Marquez opened the final round by landing a couple of effective shots as he waited for Pacquiao to commit himself. And Pacquiao did commit, scoring some heavy blows at the midpoint of the round. With 30 seconds left, the crowd rose to its feet in tribute, and as both men raised their hands at the final bell, it was obvious that despite any scoring controversies, both Pacquiao and Marquez were winners in the eyes of boxing fans.

Judge Guy Jutras scored the fight 115-110 for Marquez, while judge John Stewart scored it 115-110 for Pacquiao. The third judge, Burt Clements, had a 113-113 tie. His scoring included a 10-7 opening round because, he admitted later, he did not realize he could give a 10-6 round. If Clements had scored the opening round 10-6, as the other two judges had, Pacquiao would have won by 113-112 on Clements's card and earned a split decision. "I just screwed up," Clements said. "I feel badly because I dropped the ball, plainly and simply. You can make a lot of arguments that it was a very close fight, but that's immaterial. The fact is, I dropped the ball." Marc Ratner, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, ruled that Clements's admission was no grounds for a protest.

This Manny Pacquiao & Juan Manuel Marquez dual signed autographed HBO boxing closed circuit poster will come with a covering letter of guarantee of authenticity from Global Authentics & KOfightposters.

Postage: £10.00 Special Delivery... £20.00 International registered signed 4 airmail.