Manny Pacquiao Has a Lot to Prove vs. 38-Year-Old Marquez

It's the same thing all over again for Manny Pacquiao. The 32-year-old has done this time and time again: make the semi-annual trip from his native Philippines—where he doubles as a congressman—to train for a fight he will undoubtedly win. His schedule is pretty similar every time. In a nutshell: train, meet with media, fight and repeat six months later.

And during that routine, Pac-Man is constantly forced to answer one dying question: When will you fight Floyd Mayweather? 

No one besides maybe Pacquiao and Mayweather will ever know the true answer to this question, but one thing is sure: Over and over again, Pacquiao gets criticized for not fighting "Money." 

He has nothing else to prove against any of these other fighters, they say. If he wants to be the best in the world, he has to beat Mayweather. These guys are idiotic to not cash in on the money that awaits them for this fight—especially this next fight, when Pacquiao goes up against 38-year-old Juan Manuel Marquez, who he's already beaten.

What's the point? Why not wait until you can set up a deal with Mayweather?

While the champ continues to go through the same routine and hear the same criticisms from quite possibly everyone on the planet, he is right to fight Marquez.

He still has a lot to prove, even against Dinamita. 

In the two previous fights between these guys, they drew, and then Pacquiao won by split decision. It has been about as close as 24 rounds of boxing can get. 

If you think Pacquiao has proved himself to be significantly better than Marquez in those fights, you would be joking yourself. 

Furthermore, Marquez seems to be getting better in his older age. 

After losing to Mayweather Jr. by unanimous decision, Marquez knocked off Juan Diaz and then knocked out both Michael Kastidis and Likar Ramos. He's hardly chopped liver at this point. Talk about overlooked.  

Pac-Man is obviously a special fighter, but there's no way Marquez won't be ready for this fight. 38 isn't 100. Pacquiao still has a ton to prove against this guy. He absolutely needs to knock him out to establish his dominance. Anything less will be a disappointment. 

There are still more barriers in his career than just Floyd Mayweather Jr. Even if he continues to hear the same things and receive the same criticisms, Manny Pacquiao knows what he's doing. Just trust him.