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This past weekend was another successful one for future hall of famer Juan Manuel Marquez. Fighting in front of an estimated 8,300 partisans at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, Marquez would produce another impressive performance in out boxing and out slugging game but overmatched Juan ?Baby Bull? Diaz. Marquez would win a clear and convincing decision in a rematch of last year?s fight of the year in which he stopped Diaz in the 9th round in Houston, Texas.
With a few days having passed for everyone to take in Marquez? showcase the question now revolves around what exactly the future holds for the WBA and WBO Lightweight king. Against Diaz, Marquez showed the world that he still has plenty left in his tank and at the moment there seems to be three logical opponents for him.
In the post fight interview Marquez told HBO that he is dead set on a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. The two men fought to a draw in May of 2004 and Marquez lost a contested split decision in March of 2008. Ever since then Marquez has been after Pacquiao but the Filipino has since risen in weight and is currently the reigning WBO welterweight champion and slated for a November 13th fight with Antonio Margarito. As bad as Marquez wants it, it may not come about.
It has been rumored that if Marquez was victorious he could end up facing WBA Jr. Welterweight champion Amir Khan on December 11th. Khan was in town to check out the festivities and recently stated he would relish the opportunity to knock Marquez out during an interview on the Boxing Truth. It?s an interesting fight but one that has been looked down upon by some who feel that Khan needs to focus on facing legitimate 140 pounders as opposed to veterans moving up in weight.
Last but certainly not least is Michael Katsidis, the mandatory to Marquez? WBO title. Katsidis? career appeared to be in shambles after suffering heartbreaking losses to Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz in a year?s time but he has since regrouped and reeled off four straight victories. The Australian would make for an entertaining bout with Marquez if anything else due to his come forward style.
Wanting to get a better feel for what people in the sport are saying about the contest I reached out to some boxing minds to get their take on Marquez? performance and who exactly they feel he should be facing next at this point in his career. With the opinions varying, this is what everyone had to say?
Jake Donovan, managing editor at www.BoxingScene.com ?Marquez is still one of the very best in the game, but has clearly lost a step or two and is far more hittable than ever. However, it was Diaz who appeared to be the closer of the two toward retirement from round to round. I’d love to see Marquez stay at lightweight, as it’s clear that it is his most effective weight. Saturday night reaffirmed this; hopefully he’ll settle for the paydays there and not compromise himself physically in pursuit of bigger game, figuratively and literally.
A showdown with Michael Katsidis is long overdue. Obviously the biggest fight of the three is a third fight with Pacquiao, but I’ve had my fill of catch weights and there’s no way in hell Pac comes all the way down to any weight effective enough for Marquez to fight at his best. I have no interest whatsoever in a Khan fight. It’s high time for Khan to step up and face better competition at 140 rather than pursue smaller or light hitting fighters (Marquez falling under the “smaller” category). A Katsidis fight is a potential passing of the torch type fight, not to mention that win or lose, Katsidis always makes for good theatre. It’s probably the least lucrative of the three, which means the least likely to happen, but Katsidis has earned the right to challenge for the lightweight crown. That should be good enough, especially in an era where it’s time for boxing to give back every once in a while.?
Ricardo Lois, Los Angeles Boxing Examiner and contributor to the Boxing Truth? ?I thought Marquez fought well, for an aging warrior. He is craft as a boxer is incredible, but he is not firing on all cylinders anymore.
I would like to see Marquez fight Amir Khan. I think even at his advanced aged, Marquez has enough wrinkles in his game to make it a tough night for Khan and help the boxing world discover if Khan is an A-side player or B-side, also ran.?
Ishe Smith, Jr. Middleweight contender last seen in an excellent back and forth battle with undefeated Fernando Guerrero earlier this month? ?Marquez may go down as one of the greatest mexican fighters of all time. He deserves much more respect than fighting a hype job in Amir Khan. I want to see Marquez vs Pacquiao. Khan needs to fight Bradley or other good jr welterweights. Juan deserves the resepct and right to fight someone super. Khan is not super yet. Marquez proved last night he is unbelievable and showed he is a true champion.?
Ryan Songalia, contributor to www.BoxingScene.com, Boxing Digest magazine, and GMA7 Sports? ?I felt Marquez looked old last night. Of course at 36 years old, he’s supposed to look old, but this was the first time I stepped back and thought he was really slipping. Diaz would miss by a mile and Marquez would not be in position to counter. I have to believe that Marquez of two years ago would have stopped this version of Diaz, even in that state of self-preservation that Diaz fought out of.
Marquez still has enough to take Michael Katsidis apart and I know Freddie Roach still wants a third fight with Pacquiao. I just don’t think Marquez can deal with the bigger, faster and stronger Amir Khan.?
Ice John Scully, former title contender and trainer who has worked with the likes of Chad Dawson, Jose Antonio Rivera, and Matt Godfrey? ?I would personally prefer to see Marquez face Amir Khan right now. I think the timing of that particular fight is right. I think Pacman has elevated himself to a point where the interest in him and Marquez isnt there like it would be for other potential fights Pac could be in at this time. Definitely Amir Khan.?
Chris Cozzone, photo journalist for www.Fightnews.com… ?My choice is obvious: The pacman. Marquez is much more deserving of a chance to fight Pacquiao than Margarito or Cotto. In fact, he’s the only fighter on the planet who has Pacquiao’s number – not to say he can beat him the third time around, mind you, but i give him a solid chance. But, like other writers and boxing fans, calling for this fight is another futile exercise – like beating one’s head against the wall – kind of like asking for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. If parties are unwilling, or big business is going to get in the way of a fight that benefits the sport, it ain’t gonna happen. With that in mind, second best option would be Amir Khan, if only for the sake of adding to Marquez’s resume, should he win and become a 4x weight division champ. On the other hand, Katsidis appears the much more action-packed battle. Either one is a must-see.?
Terry Trekas, promoter and director of boxing operations for One Punch Productions? ?I thought Marquez look good. I think if he had thrown the left uppercut off the jab instead of as a lead, he might have gotten Diaz out of there…….
I think he should fight Katsidis next. Defend the damn titles or vacate them.?
Elie Seckbach, embedded correspondent for AOL Sports/Fanhouse? ?I thought marquez looked great Diaz mixed it up, tried to serve some new dishes but marquez ajusted well, he was just too much for Diaz.
Of course i’d like to see Pacquiao and Marquez get in the ring. Marquez was saying this week that the pacman is scarred of him while Freddie Roach says that the Pacquiao who had a tough time against Marquez is not the same Pacquiao.?
Jeff Mayweather, former IBO Jr. Lightweight champion and world class trainer? ?I think Marquez fought a brilliant fiight and showed the world that he can still take these young guys to school even at 36. He threw great combinations, used angels and was willing to fight Diaz toe to toe also. Diaz showed tremendous heart but got completely outclassed this time around. 2. I like to see Marquez Manny III they had two epic battles that in the eyes of most true boxing fans at best is 1-1 Khan hasnt done anything special to be getting so much praise hes talented but his two biggest wins came over one fighter that happen to be Jewish and was very well protected and unproven Salita ala Yuri Foreman and Malinaggi proven but safe zero punching power still has a lot more proving to do beeat Bradley. Kendall Holt. Devin Alexander or Zab Judah then he will have done something Katsidis too much risk no reward Manny is the money and at 36 time to start thinking about cashing out and walking away into the sunset and never look back. He will have had a great career to be proud of his legacy in tact.?
Ryan Maquinana, West Coast www.Maxboxing.com correspondent ?With Floyd out of the picture, there actually is a fight left for Manny to take–Juan Manuel Marquez. Last night was another ho-hum dominant decision over a technically outgunned fighter who didn’t have the power to put a thinking fighter like “Dinamita” out of his element. It should be noted, however, that Diaz was still able to sneak a few clean left hooks past Juanma. Whether that was due to Diaz’s fine-tuning or Marquez’s aging is another topic of discussion.
In contrast to a Khan or Katsidis fight, there is some bad blood between the two pound-for-pounders and an instant storyline, especially with the controversy surrounding their first two bouts. For Manny, you have unfinished business in silencing the doubters once and for all that he is the superior fighter, having already taken the only win between them. On the other hand, Juanma has something to prove in recovering his name after being systemically picked apart by Floyd in his last megafight, in addition to the resentment he feels seeing his longtime rival Pacquiao garner the awards and accolades that come with being the top-rated fighter on the planet.
Financial negotiations aside, the only logistical roadblock I see is in the weight. Pacquiao can no longer boil down to 135, and I doubt Marquez wants to venture north to welterweight, where he was too small and too slow for Floyd. If they can make it at junior welterweight (remember, Nigel Collins still hasn’t stripped Manny of his RING Magazine 140-lbs. belt), then I don’t see why they can’t make it happen. But it’d worth noting that Pacquiao would have the leverage in brokering a deal, and the last time the two bickered over money after the first fight, it took four years for them to reunite in the ring.?
Danny ?Swift? Garcia, undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect? ?I think he fought a great technical fight. I would like to see him fight mike katsidis it would be great action there both the same size a action packed fight. I see marquez winning by a later round tko. Khan would be a good fight but I would rather see khan fight madaina. I think he really wants pacman for the pay day but hey I dont blame him.?
Michael Marley, Boxing Examiner. Read more of Michael?s work HERE? ?You would have to be a stone hater not to give Juan ma full props he is 36 but fights as though he is decade younger, remains an A level talent but not a box office lurem completely deserves one more crack at Manny even if it may have to happen in Manila he will get stopped but he has earned the third bout?
Curtis Stevens, Super Middleweight contender from Brooklyn, New York? ?He fought great. either pac man or his mandatory , amir khan is to tall for him to fight.?
