Manny Pacquiao's Next Fight: Why Juan Manuel Marquez Is Not It

There is no doubt in my mind that Juan Maunuel Marquez has his place in boxing history. As a Pound for Pound champion? No. There are way too many impressive people in their prime, on the rise, and like Marquez on the decline.

The fight everyone wants to see is Pacquiao vs Maywether. One thing I am willing to bet on is that this will not be Pacquiao's next fight. Mayweather needs to fight someone as a tune up match before Pacquiao. Someone he can fight with no real risk of a loss. Maybe Mayweather takes KJ Noons up on his challenge.

In the meantime who will Pacquiao fight?  Some say Marquez should be Pacquiao's next fight. In fact, Oscar De La Hoya tweeted after the fight with Katsidis, "Great fights now let's rally for a Marquez paquiao fight," from his official verified twitter account. The fact is that Manny Pacquiao has one win and one draw over Marquez. The draw was due to the fact that one judge had it 115-110 for Marquez, another 115-110 for Pacquiao and Judge Burt Clements sealed the draw with a 113-113 score, but he admitted making a mistake. He should have had the first round 10-6 for Pacquiao instead of 10-7 because Pacquiao had knocked Marquez down 3 times in the first round. Pacquiao would have won, had Clements added the third knockdown to the scorecard for round 1.

So Pacquiao has really beat Marquez twice. Why would he fight him again. Die hard Marquez fans that say Pacquiao is ducking Marquez or Pacquiao is afraid of Marquez, are really just kidding themselves. They refuse to come to grips with the reality that Marquez is past his prime and Pacquiao is peaking in his. Marquez has less of a chance this time because has not only improved tremendously but is bigger and stronger since they last fought. So why would he think he can win? Maybe he just wants one last huge payday. Maybe he wants to be in the spotlight one last time. Or is that Marquez possibly has delusions of grandeur. Who knows. What I wanted to know is how can he realistically be in the pound for pound discussion when you have a new era of talent and he has lost to Pacquiao twice. Doesn't someone who hasn't lost to Pacquiao twice deserve a shot?

Forgetting about Floyd who else is there? More importantly is there anyone else who has a similiar style as Floyd. Fast defensive fighter with an "East Coast" style.  "East Coast" would be characterized by a "stick-n-move" style with a "Philly Shell"or "Crab" defense or guard. This would serve as a preview to Pacquiao vs Mayweather. All of Manny Pacquiao's opponents have been bigger and stronger fighters who all come in straight forward, toe to toe with the hands up in the traditional manner which would be a "West Coast" style. When I think of "East Coast" style I certainly do not think of Marquez.

Who does come to mind. Obviously the strictest student of the East Coast style, Floyd Mayweather Jr. However he is not available at this point. I think Sugar Shane Mosley. He's seen better days but he is the closest thing to Mayweather in style and caliber. Although he is bigger, the age events out the playing field.  Pacquiao vs Mosley would be far more competitive than another installment of Pacquiao beating Marquez. If Pacquiao vs Mosley can't happen then Andre Berto. I think Berto is still too green for Pacquiao but because styles make fights it would be far more competitive than a Marquez match.

Juan Manuel Marquez couldn't be the top fighter in the era of Morales and Barrera. He has outlasted them and now as an older man he certainly cannot compete with the likes of  Pacquiao and Mayweather. He is better suited as a top second tier fighter. Marquez vs Cotto. There's a fight for JMM.