'Pacman' claims title after close battle with Marquez

Manny Pacquiao, right, connects with a left against Juan Manuel Marquez during their WBC super featherweight championship fight on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada. PHOTO: AFP

Philippines Manny `Pacman' Pacquiao captured the World Boxing Council super featherweight crown on Saturday, dethroning Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez with a 12-round split decision victory.

In a rematch of a 2004 slugfest that ended in a draw, one judge gave Marquez a 115-112 decision while another saw Pacquiao the winner by the same margin. The third judge gave the bout to the Asian star 114-113.

The difference in a bout when both men were bloodied but traded hard punches to the finish proved to be a third-round knockdown inflicted by Pacquiao, who improved to 46-3 with two drawn.

Marquez, who fell to 48-4, said he felt robbed by the decision.

"I thought I won. The decision wasn't correct," Marquez said. "I haven't lost anything at all. The people know who really won the fight. Decisions like this are disturbing. I believe I won the fight."

"I think I won the fight," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao expected to move up to the lightweight division and challenge US fighter David Diaz, the WBC lightweight champion who improved to 34-1-1 with a majority decision win over Mexican Ramon Montano in a non-title undercard bout.