Manny Pacquiao Will Push Juan Manuel Marquez into His Shadow Forever with Win

Manny Pacquiao is the biggest reason Juan Manuel Marquez is truly famous.

If we're being honest with one another (and we are), as good as Marquez has been throughout his career, he'll never escape the Pacquiao trilogy.

At 38 years old, the Mexican fighter has won the world championship in three different weight classes and eight world titles in all.

He's 53-5-1 in his career and is currently ranked as the No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

However, when you think of Juan Manuel Marquez, you think of Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez has certainly fought his share of talented fighters since he first touched gloves with the Filipino, but without that first fight, and his quest for the rematch, Marquez wouldn't be who he is today.

He's taken advantage of everything that came with that fame—and won fights—but now Pacquiao is going to finish what he started for the Mexican.

Since the last time these two touched gloves in 2008, we've seen their careers go in different directions.

Marquez won the lightweight title from Joel Casamayor immediately following the second fight with Pacquiao and had a string of defenses against Juan Diaz (twice) and Michael Katsidis, but he has also aged and gotten slower over that time.

This was never more prevalent than in his loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in 2009. Just like that fight, Marquez is now stepping back up in weight to take on a fighter who is not only bigger and stronger now, but faster as well.

While JMM has aged and slowed down, Pacquiao has gotten considerably better.

Seven years ago this rivalry started. Marquez played his part well, but now it is time for it to end.

As Pacquiao prepares for the last few years of competitive, world championship fighting of his own, he must first close the door on a boxer he helped make famous.

There isn't much chance for Marquez in this fight. While we're all excited at the possibility of seeing another classic like their first two bouts, there is a good chance we'll be disappointed this time around.

Pacquiao will not only put to bed any doubts about the first two fights in this series, but he'll push Juan Manuel Marquez into his shadow forever with a dominating win.

It is only fitting, though. That is how Marquez truly came to be known and that is how he'll truly be remembered.