Whether it?s Antonio Margarito limping back into the limelight after a four-year hiatus and a messy divorce, or all-time great Roy Jones Jr. plugging away at age 46, boxing is littered with fighters competing well past their primes or making ill-advised comebacks.
Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs), however, is more a intriguing case. The 42-year-old icon has been rehabbing a knee injury, but he has also yet to suffer the decline of the aforementioned Jones or the inactivity of Margarito.
While Juan Manuel Marquez will not fight in 2015, Bob Arum expects him back in the ring next year (per Coppinger):
Juan Manuel Marquez hasn?t competed since a dominant decision win over Mike Alvarado in May 2014, but Bob Arum told USA TODAY Sports he expects the Mexican boxer to return next year. The 42-year-old has been battling a lingering knee injury, but is inching closer to a return.
?If (Brandon) Rios beats (Tim) Bradley,? Arum said, ?I would do Rios and Marquez. That would be a great fight.?
Arum said a rematch with Bradley is also a possibility for Marquez, but that Bradley is more like to fight Canelo Alvarez if he wins. Marquez is seeking to become the first Mexican fighter ever to win titles in five weight classes. He claimed titles at 126, 130, 135 and 140, but came up short in two tries at a welterweight belt.
Juan Manuel Marquez will only fight again in the pursuit of marquee bouts, and rightfully so. Arum told Coppinger that Marquez is not returning because of dire financial straits (like Margarito), which thankfully means that a fifth fight against Manny Pacquiao is off the table. (The biggest variable in a Marquez comeback, of course, remains his physical health.)
Now, from a pure matchup standpoint, Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez V still holds tremendous appeal. However, it would be a shame for Marquez to revisit such familiar territory after his one-punch knockout of Pacquiao, which finally gave him a victory in their thrilling, competitive and controversial tetralogy.
Opting to pursue a welterweight belt could serve as an intriguing subplot for the final act of Juan Manuel Marquez?s career, but the odds are long. Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez fought in 2013, with Bradley winning a split decision, and while a rematch makes sense from a variety of angles, it doesn?t appear immanent.
Juan Manuel Marquez-Brandon Rios would be a tremendous fight ? and one Marquez probably should win, even at 42 ? although the chances of Rios upsetting Timothy Bradley are slim. And what would be the point of Marquez-Rios with ?Bam Bam? coming off a loss and with no title at stake?
Perhaps Juan Manuel Marquez will face someone like Amir Khan, which is a compelling matchup and a fight that would carry significant implications at 147 pounds. As Coppinger mentions, Terence Crawford would surely jump at the opportunity to fight someone with Marquez?s profile, but that would be an incredibly risky fight for the Mexican legend at this juncture of his career.
Opting to pursue a welterweight belt could serve as an intriguing subplot for the final act of Juan Manuel Marquez?s career, but the odds are long. Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez fought in 2013, with Bradley winning a split decision, and while a rematch makes sense from a variety of angles, it doesn?t appear immanent.
Juan Manuel Marquez-Brandon Rios would be a tremendous fight ? and one Marquez probably should win, even at 42 ? although the chances of Rios upsetting Timothy Bradley are slim. And what would be the point of Marquez-Rios with ?Bam Bam? coming off a loss and with no title at stake?
Perhaps Juan Manuel Marquez will face someone like Amir Khan, which is a compelling matchup and a fight that would carry significant implications at 147 pounds. As Coppinger mentions, Terence Crawford would surely jump at the opportunity to fight someone with Marquez?s profile, but that would be an incredibly risky fight for the Mexican legend at this juncture of his career.
