INFOGRAPHIC: Pacquiao-Marquez rivalry by the numbers

MANILA, Philippines – Most great boxers in history are defined by the great rivalries they shared with other fighters. In this respect, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will be linked forever.

Pacquiao and Marquez shared the ring for a total of three times now, with all their fights going the distance. For 36 grueling rounds, they tried to knock off each other’s senses while making millions in fight purses and pay-per-view revenues along the way. Each bout, however, yielded an unconvincing result, leaving fans salivating for more action.

From their first meeting in 2004 – wherein Pacquiao decked Marquez three times in the first round – to their razor-close rematches in 2008 and 2011, the two warriors personified their respective countries’ rich boxing history by dishing out their best inside the ring.

Marquez retained his WBA and IBF featherweight titles in the first fight via a disputable draw, Pacquiao took Marquez’s WBC super featherweight crown in their 2008 rematch, and the Filipino kept his WBO welterweight belt in their similarly disputable rubbermatch in 2011.

But those three close fights only ended up fuelling the debate on who’s the better fighter. Pacquiao and Marquez just cancel each other out that they could fight 20 more times, yet probably there will still be no clear winner.

On Dec. 8 (Dec. 9 in Manila), the two boxing greats meet again for a fourth time. So much has transpired in their three meetings that it is just apt to look into their rivalry in terms of figures.

In the above infographic designed by Philstar.com graphic artist RP Ocampo, we list down the notable factors that so far define the great rivalry that is Pacquiao-Marquez.

Authors note: ‘Punches Traded’ refers to the total number of punches landed – not thrown – throughout their three fights, as recorded by Compubox.