Round 1- We get a technical start this time around, with both working off of the jab and Pacquiao’s having more success. Pacquiao is also potshotting with the straight left to the head and body, while blocking most right hands of Marquez. Marquez lands the best punch of the round, a straight right that makes Pacquiao taunt him in his signature fashion, but it isn’t enough to win it. At least Marquez did not get dropped this time around.

Round 2- Both are looking to land their lead hand, with Marquez frequently mixing up some hooks to the body in between. Marquez is also looking to counter, but Pacquiao this time around is not making as many mistakes as he did in the first fight. A good exchange ends the round, with Marquez edging it with superior combination-punching, punctuating it by wobbling Pacquiao with a flush left hook at the bell.

Round 3- Both are still looking for openings to land the lead hand, with an occasional exchange occuring that neither is able to get a definite edge in. During the final minute, Pacquiao starts to land his straight left more successfully, even using it to counter Marquez’ right. Another exchange occurs, and Pacquiao sends Marquez straight down with a beautiful left hook. Pacquiao does not have much time to follow up, but he is able to stagger Marquez again with a right hook at the bell, with Marquez arguably being held up by the ropes. Seemingly dazed, Marquez walks to the wrong corner after the bell. Great round for Pacquiao, and one that would end up very important in this fight.

Round 4- Marquez seems to have recovered from that late knockdown, and the two throw and land power shots throughout with good success. Pacquiao is wisely creating a difference in the tide of the action with solid use of his jab, yet he scores with some eye-catching left hands and even taunts Marquez when being hit clean at times. It is worth noting that Pacquiao has been showing improvements in comparison to their first meeting, as his improved defense shows in this round, and he even takes advantage of some countering opportunities.

Round 5- The pace slows down in favor of Marquez, who is finally having the opportunities to counter that he has been waiting for all night. While Pacquiao gets in some lefts, Marquez is catching with often with the lead counter right hand, which is the best weapon of this round. Marquez is also able to put a few flashy combinations together on Pacquiao.

Round 6- Marquez puts on an impressive display of timing and counterpunching in the round, as he is able to take advantage of plenty of openings to the land the right hand clean on Pacquiao. Pacquiao is taking these shots well and frequently responding with combinations, but Marquez holds his own in the exchanges and clearly wins the round from a technical standpoint. Good round for the champion, Marquez.

Round 7- Marquez wins the first minute through use of his bodywork. An accidental head clash turns the tide of things and opens a cut above Marquez’ right eye. After a quick visit with the doctor, they get into a firefight. Both fighter is having plenty of success, but Pacquiao is using his right hook and left hand well enough to edge it. It is also worth noting that Pacquiao is using effective defense in between at times, another aspect that helps him win the round. Closest round of the fight thus far.

Round 8- Early on, Marquez lands a hard 1-2 on Pacquiao, visibly hurting him and opening up a cut above his right eye. Pacquiao shows a great and speedy recovery like usual, but Marquez follows up well for the remainder of the round. Marquez wisely mixes it up to the body throughout, seemingly hurting Pacquiao again momentarily with a left hook to the body. After being tentative in the first half, Pacquiao starts to put some combinations together in the last half, but Marquez is able to edge the exchanges with his timing, particularly walking Pacquiao into a left uppercut at one point. Great round for Marquez.

Round 9- Now Pacquiao seems to be recovered and relaxed in this round. He is now finding a home for both his lead right hook and left hand. Marquez is able to snap back his head at one point with a right hand, and ends up having an even rate of success with Pacquiao in the exchanges. Pacquiao does open up a new cut on the on right eye of Marquez, edging what is the closest round of the fight.

Round 10- Pacquiao impressively ducks under a shot and nails Marquez with an overhand left that staggers him forward and into the ropes. As expected, Marquez decides to trade his way out of danger, but this only allows Pacquiao to pinpoint several left hands and right hooks on him, worsening his second cut. Marquez recovers after about a minute and starts to land his right, but Pacquiao is still landing enough left hands and right hooks to dictate. Good round for Pacquiao.

Round 11- Pacquiao gets a small break a minute in due to taking a low blow. After recovering, he lands a left that drives Marquez into the ropes briefly. Marquez comes back to land a right that does the same to Pacquiao before landing another pair of rights. Pacquiao’s defense, which is a level ahead of what it was in the first fight is effective in this round, but Marquez lands enough rights to the head and body to edge it. Both fighters are showing solid counterpunching skills, as each fighter is throwing and landing the check hook.

Round 12- Marquez starts to utitlize his jab more in the round, allowing him to set up more combinations in close range as well as the uppercut. He even ends up rocking Pacquiao with a looping right hand, causing him to fire several more. Pacquiao starts to have some success, but Marquez is still keeping up and Pacquiao ultimately does too little too late. The fight is announced as a (controversial) split decision once again, but this time swings in the favor of Pacquiao, making him a 3-division world champion. Not only is this one of the best fights ever (certainly did not dissapoint in comparison to the first), but it is also one of the closest fights ever. Both fighters showed lots of skills, hurt eachother numerous times, and even cut eachother up with legal punches. Like their first fight, I felt Pacquiao got the edge off the stregth of the knockdown(s), but one very well could score this for either fighter had it not occured, yet I would say it would be a draw had it not. After giving us fans two five star fights, these two thankfully would carry on their rivarly for two more epic bouts. Following this victory, Pacquiao would go on a wild hot streak.