Earlier this week, it was rumored 41 year old former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) would return to the ring in early 2015.
We don’t know who his opponent will be but can speculate who it won’t be.
Fans, as well as Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, would like for the WBO’s top contender to face its champion, Manny Pacquiao, for a fifth time.
And while JMM would love nothing more than to win a world title at welterweight, ever since he rallied from the jaws of defeat to heroically knockout Manny in December 2012, he’s been hell-bent in his opposition to a fifth fight with PacMan, even though it would be his most lucrative option.
“My career is all about challenges,” Marquez stated late last fall. “Right now the challenge [for my career] is to get a fifth title.”
When confronted about a possible fifth showdown with Manny Pacquiao, Marquez, who refuses to exercise his status as PacMan’s mandatory opponent, told BoxingScene in December:
“[The win over Pacquiao] is and always will be an unforgettable moment for me, for the fans.”
“That is precisely why I think there is no point in a fifth fight although the promoters are pushing [for it].”
“I already did what I had to do by ending the fourth fight like that and that was the perfect ending. I want the people to keep the pride [of that win] and that feeling for life.” However, given Floyd Mayweather’s apparent disinterest in fighting Manny Pacquiao, Marquez should be acting like a man who has hit the lottery because Floyd’s indecision paves the way for Pacquiao vs Marquez 5.
As a result, it’s easy to speculate there’s something about a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao that greatly concerns JMM; After all, what more could a 41 year old in the twilight of his career ask for? A shot at a world title in a new weight class… check. The most lucrative fight in his long career… check. Center stage in professional sports… check.
Double standard? Some insist Marquez was robbed in his three previous fights with Pacquiao and is scared of getting shafted again.
… But wait a minute.
Prior to Pacquiao’s win over Tim Bradley last April, Marquez was lobbying for a rematch with the latter despite the fact he felt he was robbed in their fight too.
Following his split decision loss to Bradley a year ago, an inflamed Juan Manuel Marquez insisted the judging was bogus.
“I clearly won. I have been robbed six times in my career,” Juan told reporters following Marquez vs Bradley.
However, until Tim lost to Manny in their rematch, Marquez was lobbying for Marquez vs Bradley 2.
“I’d love to [fight again in Arena Mexico]. A rematch against Bradley [in that venue] would be phenomenal.” What made a rematch with Bradley so enticing if Marquez believes he was robbed against Tim too?
Is Marquez’s reluctance to fight Pacquiao again solely derived from a presumed fear he’ll get shafted should that bout go the distance?
