Despite all of the glory that has come from Rafael Marquez? sterling career, there seems to be a presumption amongst many that he is simply an opponent heading into this weekend?s clash with WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Lopez is looked at as one of the torch bearers of the sport because of his complete arsenal and he is a 4-1 betting favorite over his Mexico City counterpart.
At 35 years of age Marquez obviously has slowed in some regards and the punishment he absorbed in his first three battles against Israel Vazquez was enough to make lesser fighters call it a day. But the former two division champion has something just as important as skills or power, something that makes him extremely dangerous as he is now just a day away from locking horns with Lopez.
<--- Slideshow: Tecate Girls to be in Las Vegas for this weekend?s Lopez-Marquez battle
It?s called pride.
It?s something that all of the great Mexican fighters and pugilists in general have always had and it is one element that has kept his confidence on high as he goes into this weekend?s bout with his back to the wall. Boxing is a sport that is hard to let go and when a fighter reaches the veteran stage of their career they have to turn to other facets outside of their youth and athleticism just to get by. While a few years removed from his championship days, Marquez is like a stubborn bull that refuses to budge and his heart and pedigree shouldn?t be overlooked
Anyone wanted to take a closer look at Marquez would be advised to search for his aforementioned battles with Vazquez, as the first three clashes were chalked full of knockdowns, ebbs in momentum, rallying heroics and plenty of blood and guts. Marquez evened the score at two wins apiece with his May stoppage over his 32-year old rival after also winning the first fight and being stopped himself in their rematch and dropping a close deicison in the rubber match.
Near 126 pounds there isn?t a matchup that is as anticipated as a Lopez brawl with WBA champion Yuriorkis Gamboa from Cuba. Slick, awkward and a blazing fast puncher, Gamboa is looked at by many as the man to upend Lopez and the fact that their possible showdown has gotten so much attention is a testament to how overlooked Marquez is at this point.
A Marquez victory isn?t out of question here. Lopez is a great talent but he has shown chinks in his armor, as evidenced by his late round gassing against journeyman Rogers Mtagwa a year ago and the knockdown he suffered in the first round against Bernabe Concepcion in July before regrouping and dusting him off in the next stanza. Marquez has the explosive punch and skill to pull off the upset but the reality is that he isn?t expected to win.
Boxing is a cruel sport at times as the demise of several fighters is talked about and speculated well before the moment takes place. Marquez is expected to be shown the door out on Saturday night and he is in a position where he has nothing to lose. It?s just one of the many variables that make him dangerous heading into quite possibly the most important fight of his illustrious career.
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
