Last night left both boxing fans and the sporting public in general in complete shock.
No one outside of Juan Manuel Marquez's camp could have argued that they stood behind him all the way, going so far to predict the actual result.
Manny Pacquiao hadn't lost a fight by knockout in over a decade. The chances of him failing to make the 10-count were slim to none.
The sixth-round knockout of Pacquiao might have hurt a potential superfight with Floyd Mayweather, but if anything it should have bolstered fans' belief that one punch can give even the biggest underdog a chance.
Fighting, whether it be boxing or MMA, is unlike any sport in that it doesn't take a sustained performance over a period of time in order for an underdog to pick up a victory. It's not as if the United States was able to stop playing after going ahead of the Soviets in the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
Boxing is also unique in that some of the more thrilling events occur when a fight fails to deliver on the promised length. Fans would be up in arms if a baseball game suddenly ended in the fifth inning or a football game concluded in the middle of the third quarter.
Some great fights have gone the distance, but they lack the rush of adrenaline that comes with watching a stunning early knockout.
Boxing might like the star power of yesteryear, but that doesn't completely take away from the kind of excitement that can be provided with a huge upset in the ring.
Marquez may not have been as big of an underdog as Buster Douglas, but he has captivated the country like Douglas did nonetheless. If you were watching the fight live, the knockout likely left your jaw on the floor for at least a few minutes.
Many fans tuned in last night to see Pacquiao continue his dominance en route to fighting Mayweather. Now, the narrative has almost turned on its head as a result of one right-hand punch from Marquez.
The commentators on the broadcast took no time in speculating as to whether last Saturday was the last time Pacquiao will step in the ring.
Some might be thinking that it's now Marquez who deserves a shot at Mayweather, even after losing to him before. It could also open the door for Timothy Bradley to get a shot at either Marquez or Mayweather, leading to his ascension into elite status.
Boxing may never see the likes of Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, etc. again, but fans can always be guaranteed to witness a result unlike any other in sports.
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