Marquez Took the Mayweather Fight with Pacquiao in the Back of His Mind

After Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barreara were gone, Juan Manuel Marquez is the new pride of Mexico in boxing. He’s a fundamentally sound boxer with under-rated power and speed and courageous heart that  never backs down.

He was floored by Manny Pacquiao four times in 24 rounds he still managed to be competitive throughout the fight.

Others say he won both fights. I say, the results were fair. It’s a fight that you hate see someone loosing. It’s a fight that can go either way. It’s a fight that you couldn’t predict that winner until the final bell. It’s a fight worth paying to see but who wants his bet to loose. Though he’s claiming he won both fights. I see that the verdicts were fair enough.

The man they call Dinamita is ready to die every time he steps into the ring as he says.  What courage and dedication this warrior has. He will never quit. He’ll stay in shape all year round. He’s not the typical fighter that parties when there’s no training camp. I’ll give him the maximum contract if he were an NBA player.

Though he’s an admirable fighter, my observation was he’s not the ideal sportsman that people can idolize in terms of character. You can admire his work ethics but not his personality.

He refuses to accept defeat. He was bitter with his defeat and draw to Pacquiao and Indonesian Chris John, respectively. He was worse in accepting the loss against his former in their second fight.

Analyzing the events that happened during and after the two fights, he has somehow developed a personal grudge with the Pacman.

He never touches gloves with the guy during fights unlike the Morales, Barrera, Dela Hoya and others. He doesn’t even congratulate the guy after finishing the fight. It was Manny who actually comes up to him after each fight and embraces him with no response from Marquez.

Juan Manuel came to Manila. He was warmly welcomed by the Filipinos but when a live feed on national TV pitted Pacquiao and Marquez together he acted like a spoiled brat crying asking for some candies that he couldn’t have. He showed disrespect to his hosts. It was conduct unbecoming of a champion.  It was a disgrace. It was pathetic.

We have never seen classy champions Ali or Dela Hoya or Sugar Ray Leonard or Lennox Lewis act like that after a loss.

Marquez was disrespecting Pacquiao on TV asking for a third fight but the Filipino champ didn’t stoop down to his level and instead just gave him a smile, a classy act from a classy champion.

Now Marquez accepted to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. What’s the theory behind it?

Floyd is the former number one boxer in the world until his hiatus. Now that he’s back, Dinamita wants to prove to the world that he can beat the Pretty Boy. Aside from that, just fighting him gives a swipe to Pacquiao that if he doesn’t want to fight him, he’ll fight the other top guy and beat him. By doing so, he’ll have much more leverage that Pacquiao will come to him, if he beats him.

On Saturday, Sept 19, he’ll lock horns with Mayweather. It’s a fight that he’s considered to loose. But with his work attitude, heart and the guidance of Nacho Beristain, it’s possible that he can win the fight not like how the experts put it.

It’s not going to be an easy fight though. I see competitive one.

Marquez should bring the fight to Floyd. He has to dictate the tempo and I see him mixing up his style of attacking and countering. Though Marquez is the one moving up in weight, I think he has the crisper punches than Mayweather.

I am hoping for a brawl on occasions but I know that it won’t happen for the two protagonists like to fight back pedalling unless someone changes tactics and goes into attack mode.

We’ll be seeing Mayweather winning by a close seven rounds-to-five unanimous decision as Marquez will put up a gallant fight that results in cuts and bruises on Floyd’s pretty face.

Marquez will loose the fight but Mayweather will be the one beaten. Bring Pacquiao-Mayweather and Pacquiao-Marquez III on!