News today out of the Spanish website ESTO is that No.2 pound for pound boxer and legitimate lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has hired a pair of Venezuelan sparring partners to mimic the style of his upcoming super-fight opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr.
According to my Google translation of the article, the pair accepted an offer to come to Mexico to help Marquez and his manager Nacho Beristáin prepare for what will undoubtedly be the biggest fight of Marquez's long and stellar career.
The fight was postponed once due to a reported rib injury obtained by Mayweather in June during an intense sparring session.
Since that time, Mayweather has been cleared by doctors and the fight has now been rescheduled for Sep. 19, at the MGM Grand.
That means Marquez, who is widely popular in his native Mexico, will be fighting the weekend after the Mexican Independence Day.
Beristáin stated that they were unable to locate any sparring partners in Mexico who would be suited for the difficult task of serving as duplicates to Pretty boy.
"Marquez was in desperate need of a certain type of sparring partner, there was nobody we liked here, so it was sought elsewhere," said Beristain.
Apparently, the veteran trainer Beristain, who has worked many great fighters over the years including Oscar Delahoya, had a Venezuelan contact named Veracruz who assisted the experienced manager in locating the correct men for the job.
The names of these specialized sparring partners were not disclosed, but Beristain has stated that sparring is to begin within one week at the latest, and they may be looking for a third and fourth assistant from the United States.
Marquez is also said to be served by a nutritionist, whose job it will be to add eight to 10 pounds of muscle weight to the Mexican warrior's 5'7" frame.
Mayweather has endured a constant barrage of criticism lately from Mexican fans of Marquez, the media, and even some tongue-in-cheek sarcasm from other fighters in the featherweight divisions, who are wondering if they will be chosen next.
These Mayweather detractors—and there are many—seem to think that he is ducking and dodging fighters in his own 147-pound welterweight class, in favor of an easy and softer route to Manny Pacquiao.
If that's true, then he has chosen a very formidable opponent in Marquez, who, in the minds of some hardcore fans, remains to be the best fighter in the world, ahead of Pacquiao.
Mayweather sent a message to boxing fans in a recent statement, telling them to “hold on to their hats and sombreros," because when he gets back in the ring in Sep., they will see what they have been missing these past eighteen months.”
It's nothing personal, Sonny. It's strictly business. —Al Pacino (Playing Michael Corleone in The Godfather)
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