Pacquiao ready for break after KO loss

Usually, it's Manny Pacquiao who is doing the singing after he fights.

Late Saturday night, Pacquiao was in no condition to sing or celebrate. While Pacquiao was at University Medical Center getting a CT scan, Juan Manuel Marquez found himself crooning an off-key version of "Happy Birthday" to Top Rank chairman and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who turned 81 the same day Marquez scored a sensational sixth-round knockout victory over Pacquiao at a sold-out MGM Grand Garden.

With the final seconds ticking down in the round, Marquez hit Pacquiao with a huge right hand after Pacquiao had tried to land a right of his own. Pacquiao went down as if he had been shot, and referee Kenny Bayless immediately called an end to the bout.

Pacquiao's CT scan at UMC was negative, and he went back to his suite at Mandalay Bay and watched the replay of what turned out to be one of the most unpleasant nights of his storied career.

Pacquiao released a statement Sunday, saying: "I want to congratulate Juan Manuel. I have no excuses. It was a good fight and he deserved the victory. I think boxing fans who watched us were winners too.

"To all my fans, I would like to thank you for your prayers and assure you that I am fine. I am looking forward to a nice rest and then I will be back to fight."

Marquez, 39, said he, too, would take a long rest in his native Mexico before deciding whether he wants to try to top one of the greatest nights of his career.

"Right now, I'm not thinking about who I'm going to fight next," Marquez said. "I want to rest and celebrate this victory with my family and friends."

Going into the sixth round, Pacquiao was ahead on the scorecards of all three judges, 47-46. He appeared to be on his way to winning the sixth round before he got knocked out.

"No, I didn't feel the fight was getting away from me," Marquez said. "I thought I was coming strong. Honestly, I was thinking I was going to push hard through the late rounds and win."

Instead, one lethal punch altered that plan. It was the first time Pacquiao, 33, had been KO'd since 1999, when Medgoen Singsurat stopped him in the third round and took Pacquiao's WBC flyweight belt. It was also the first time in his career that Pacquiao lost consecutive fights. He dropped a controversial split decision to Timothy Bradley on June 9.

If Pacquiao (54-5-2) does remain active, the likelihood of he and Floyd Mayweather Jr. meeting has greatly diminished. Mayweather plans to fight May 4 and has been talking to Robert Guerrero. Brandon Rios attended Saturday's fight and said he is interested in meeting either Pacquiao or Marquez (55-6-1) in the spring. Arum said a fifth fight with Marquez is also a distinct possibility.

"Sure, why not?" Arum said during the postfight news conference. "It was a great fight while it lasted. They were going to try and knock each other out, just like they said they would."

Marquez, who had talked about retiring after losing a majority decision to Pacquiao in their third meeting in 2011, was glad he reconsidered.

"I'm very happy I didn't retire," he said. "I'm glad the referee raised my hand. I left no doubt in my victory over Manny, and this victory brings justice, not only for me, but for the entire country of Mexico."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.