Marquez vs Pacquiao / Showtime commentary vs HBO

[Cyclops]

Watched the Pacquiao Marquez fight on Youtube hungover in bed yesterday morning (it was taken down very soon after) with the HBO commentary.

First of all I commented to the misses that it was hard to know how to score it because Marquez was landing punches that the HBO team were ignoring while they were "so badly on Pacquiao's dick" (my exact words that morning) that everything he did got some sort of ecstatic cheer. The whole team were eulogizing Pacquiao and had him up, while Harold Lederman I think only gave Marquez 3 rounds. I gave up scoring it because, well one I was hungover, two I was watching it with my girlfriend who gets bored if nobody starts bleeding all over the show or get's knocked out, and three I found the commentary very pro Manny and confusing. When they gave it to Manny I said it was a shame, that I thought it was closer but that was it. I didn't think: robbery. The whole HBO team thought the result was right.

Then I come on Boxrec and find the whole thing aflame with claims of robbery. Even the Ring magazine website, (and Ring LOVES Manny) led with an article about how it was an iffy decision. I wanted to watch it again (the Youtube version had been removed) so I downloaded it, this time with Showtime commentary.

It was like watching a different fight, this time with a clear win for Marquez. First of all Khan, although it took him a little while to warm up, was very interesting talking from the perspective of somebody who had been in the Pacquiao camp and also talked about technique, stuff that had been worked on in the gym and not only pointed out that Marques was nullifying Manny's work but also HOW he was doing it. The other guy (I don't know who he is) kind of played the cheerleader role like the HBO guys only this time shouting for Marquez, but Khan was very good and seemed genuinely sad to be giving rounds to Marquez but honest about what he thought was happening. All the punches that Marquez landed that the HBO team ignored were acknowledged by the Showtime guys.

Then at the end you had Collins and Bunce calling out and out robbery and saying there would have to be an investigation!

I know hardcore fans on Boxrec like to watch fights with the commentary down as it does influence how a fight is perceived but I generally like to watch it with commentary as I usually enjoy it. I also like to hear crowd noise for atmosphere and to listen out for the punches to see how hard they hit each other.

But it this case I have never seen two so opposing commentary's on a fight, and how they can influence how a fight is scored. It's incredible. Like I said, after I watched the HBO one I came away with the impression of a close, not that exciting a fight with a Pacquiao win that I couldn't argue against. Then the Showtime broadcast left me with the impression I had just seen an incredibly exciting dominant performance from Marquez and an out and out robbery.

Has anybody else watched them both?

Yes, another Pacquiao Marquez thread.

[Srebmun]

1st watching was with Khan and I had JMM winning by a landslide (this was on stream)
2nd watching was with HBO commentary and I had Pac winning (great quality download)
3rd watching with sound down and I still had Pac edging it (great quality download)

I personally don't see the robbery in any way whatsoever.

[JimJim2009]

I watched it twice, in the reverse order, ie, HBO first, and then primetime (to see what the fuss was about).

Much as I wanted Marquez to win, I didn't think he did. I did feel that Harold Lederman was a bit too far up Manny's backside.

It was a close fight but I wouldn't presume the decision necessarily means something fishy went on.