With the World Boxing Organization welterweight title on the line, Pacquiao received as well as he gave on Saturday night at the sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena in winning a majority decision over Marquez, who had twice before taking the Filipino champion to the limit in earning a draw and losing a split decision.
Judges Glenn Trowbridge (116-112 ) and Dave Moretti (115-113) scored it for Pacquiao. Robert Hoyle called it a draw, 114-114.
Here's a round-by-round recap (scoring is unofficial):
Round 1: Pacquiao jabs. Marquez swings a left. Pacquiao double-jabs. Marquez misses a left counter. Pacquiao lands one. Marquez pounds the body. Pacquiao with a left counter. Pacquiao throws a right-left combination. Marquez goes to body. Another classic close round between two. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9.
Round 2: A lot of jostling early here. Both boxers are looking for openings. Marquez misses with a right. Nice counter by Marquez. Jab by Pacquiao. Marquez right to body and blocked uppercut. Pacquiao surging with lefts. Marquez backs wisely. Marquez right. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Fight is even, 19-19.
Round 3: Pacquiao working jab. Marquez gets in a good right. Marquez jabs to the body. Nice lefts by Marquez, and an uppercut to the chin. Pacquiao jabs. Marquez gets in a right. Pacquiao lands a stronger right. He lands an extra shot, but just after bell. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 29-28.
Round 4: Nice hard left by Pacquiao. Marquez doesn’t land all of his left shot. Marquez with a jab. Nice left by Pacquiao. Heads collide softly. Good left by Pacquiao. They tie up. Pacquiao lands a flush left. Marquez answers to the body. Nice counter right by Pacquiao, but Marquez answers with two sharp rights, and pulls away impressed at bell. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Fight even, 38-38.
Round 5: Hard left uppercut by Marquez to the face of Pacquiao, who is swinging with ferocity. Chants of “Marquez!” in the arena. Marquez lands a jab. Pacquiao jabs back. Nice right by Marquez backs up Pacquiao. Now a hard left by Marquez. Great right by Marquez. Pacquiao flustered. He’s backing away. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 48-47.
Round 6: Both boxers jab. Pacquiao gets in a left. Marquez lands a left-right combination to the body. Hard right by Pacquiao. Now a good left by Pacquiao. Marquez tries to answer with a stiff right, and then a left to the head. Pacquiao lands a left to the body. Marquez gets in a combination to the body. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Fight even, 57-57.
Round 7: Marquez to the stomach. Pacquiao tries to jab. Nice shots by Marquez. Pacquiao charging, like he wants to go for the kill. Marquez lands a good right, though. Marquez then gets the best of an inside exchange. Pacquiao lands a left to the face. Marquez nails a sharp left to the body and right to the face. Marquez gets in a strong uppercut at bell. He’s here to win. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 67-66.
Round 8: Marquez landing jabs. Some at ringside have him up five rounds to two. Pacquiao to the body. Marquez pounds Pacquiao with a right as Pacquiao darts in. Marquez lands a left. Pacquiao answers with a combination. Pacquiao with a late combo to the face. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 77-75.
Round 9: Marquez strikes with a left and right. He sends Pacquiao to the ropes with a hard left. Wicked combination to Pacquiao's body and face by Marquez. Marquez works the jab. He keeps his right up to protect his head while beating Pacquiao in exchanges. It’s been an impressive effort by 38-year-old. Nice combo by Pacquiao, but Marquez whacks him with a right. Wow! Great combos by Pacquiao. Marquez backing up. Crowd is exploding. It's crazy in here. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 86-85.
Round 10: Marquez lands a right. Pacquiao answers with a combination. Hard right flush to the face by Marquez. Marquez slips, but he recovers and belts Pacquiao with rights as he works inside. Pacquiao looks cut on the right side of his head. Marquez's right eye is swelling. Marquez lands a right. Pacquiao connects with a left on a charge. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 96-94.
Round 11: Pacquiao’s cut looks like it came from an accidental butt in the 10th round. It’s not bad. Marquez works to the body. Pacquiao lands a combination. Marquez answers. Pacquiao is thinking now before charging forward. Marquez lands a clean right as he becomes the aggressor. Pacquiao lands a right. Pacquiao then strikes with a left. Marquez finishes with a right. Pacquiao wins round, 10-9. Marquez leads, 105-104.
Round 12: Pacquiao has salve over the cut on top of his right eye. He starts slow, can't find an opening. Marquez counters. Pacquiao throws a barrage of punches. Pacquiao jabs. No openings for Pacquiao, though. He's waiting, looking. Pacquiao jabs, Marquez answers stronger -– the story of the fight. Pacquiao loses mouthpiece in last minute. Marquez jab and combo. Pacquiao to the body. Marquez raises right fist at bell, stands on corner ropes. Pacquiao kneeling in corner, praying. Marquez wins round, 10-9. Marquez wins fight, 115-113.
The judges have awarded Manny Pacquiao a majority decision. Glenn Trowbridge (116-112 ) and Dave Moretti (115-113) scored it for Pacquiao. Robert Hoyle scored it 114-114.