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Marquez-Pacquiao show boxing still has a punch

For all the folks who think boxing has become irrelevant, think again — especially after last Saturday’s fight in Las Vegas between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao.

Did I really want to see these two battle for the fourth time? Not really, but I paid the $69 for the fight anyway.

I was watching a preliminary fight — and, by the way, can we please improve on this part? — but I grew a little tired so I decided to watch the main event when I woke up Sunday. So, bright and early the next morning, I purposely didn’t read my Daily Herald and turned on the fight.

If you’re not familiar with what has become a great rivalry, I’ll give you the short version. Marquez and Pacquiao had fought three times before this fight. Pacquiao was 2-0-1 against the talented Marquez, but the fights had all been close and controversial.

Saturday night, the first five rounds were electric and thrilled the Las Vegas crowd. Both men were knocked down once, but Pacquiao had the fight in hand by the end of the fifth. Marquez seemed to have a broken nose and he was cut and bloody.

Round 6 started and Pacquiao was pounding on Marquez. Then, with the bell just a second from ending the sixth round, the challenger hit Pacquiao with a right-handed blow he never saw. He was knocked out cold. At 2:59 into the round, he went from winner to loser in an instant.

After the fight, there was speculation Pacquiao may not fight again. Hopefully, there will be fight No. 5 between these two men.

Saturday night Pacquiao was the better fighter, but he still lost. I got my 69 bucks ready, so bring it on!

NIU the victor: Many media analysts don#146;t think the No. 15 team in the country, Northern Illinois, has a chance against No. 12 Florida State, the ACC champion (snore). College football elitist Kirk Herbstreit leads the pack with this opinion. Well, I have a wager for Mr. Herbstreit, but he probably won#146;t take it. If FSU wins, I will write a column about how right Kirk was with his pick, how he is the best analyst in college football, and he was right about NIU#146;s invitation to the fabulous Orange Bowl. But I don#146;t think I#146;ll be writing that column because the result with be a New Year#146;s Day victory for the NIU Huskies. If I#146;m right, let#146;s hear him give kudos to NIU and a nod to our bet in his postgame appearance. That#146;s a friendly and fair wager. Hopefully someone from NIU country or the Daily Herald can tweet Mr. Herbstreit and let him know this columnist is predicting a win for NIU. My BCS prediction: NIU 31, FSU 26. The Huskies will shock the world! Let#146;s flush him out with your tweets to twitter.com/KirkHerbstreit.Birthday wishesA very happy birthday to my mom, Jessie North. Hope you have lots more.Program note:Check me out on Mancow#146;s show on Ch. 50 (WPWR) at 6 a.m. Friday.Ÿ Mike North#146;s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.

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