ALLAN THE MAN

Juan Manuel Marquez finally slayed Manny Pacquiao, shocking the Filipino fight icon in the sixth round Saturday (Sunday Manila time) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Marquez ended the fight with a overhand right that hit Pacquiao flush, sending Pacquiao down hard. Pacquiao landed under the ropes and lay there for a couple of minutes before getting up and returning to his corner.

The shocking ending stunned the crowd of 16,348 as Marquez had held his own in their first three fights but failed he to get a victory and had never knocked down Pacquiao until Saturday night.

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Juan Manuel Marquez knocked down Manny Pacquiao in the 3rd round of their fourth ring clash at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Marquez surprised Pacquiao with an overhand right in the 3rd round, sending the Filipino to the canvas for the first time ever in their 8-year saga.

Prior to Sunday’s fight, the two ring warriors have already figured in three close bouts.

Various reports from Marquez’s training camp in Mexico City say the boxer has bulked up even more as he prepares for his fourth fight against Pacquiao.

But in an interview with The Boxing Channel, Pacquiao dismissed those reports, pointing out that he has been in the ring with bigger men.

The Azkals hope to ride on the momentum of their stirring wins over Vietnam and Myammar when they take on Singapore in the first-ever Suzuki Cup match in Manila on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Singapore arranged a two-leg duel with the Azkals after orchestrating a 4-3 comeback win over Laos on the same night at the Sham Alam Stadium in Malaysia.

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is expected to earn at least $25 million in his fourth ring collision with his Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez, according to Top Rank president Todd duBoef.

If the pay-per-view breaches the 1.3 million mark set by Pacquiao-Marquez III last year, then Pacquiao’s earnings could reach $30 million, DuBoef said.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer said Pacquiao has a guaranteed purse of $8.595 million for Saturday’s bout, while Marquez has $3 million.

NEW ORLEANS – Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 30,000 career points in the NBA on Wednesday as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

With 1:16 left in the second quarter, Bryant drove into the lane and rose to connect on a jump shot, taking his tally for the contest to 14 and for his career to 30,001.

“It’s a huge accomplishment,” Bryant said of becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to reach the milestone.

Phil Younghusband had been uncharacteristically quiet for most of the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup.

In the Philippine national men’s football team’s final group match against Myanmar, the Azkals star striker finally broke his silence.

Younghusband scored his first goal of the tournament at the 46th minute, as the Azkals booked a 2-0 victory for a berth in the semifinals of the tournament for the second straight time.