While WBA/IBF featherweight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez defends his titles against Victor Polo on May 7, you just know deep down he would rather be fighting Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera or Erik Morales. Throughout the majority of his career, the tough Mexican has always been sitting on the sidelines watching other boxers in big fights.
That all appeared to change when Marquez came from off the canvas three times to draw with Pacquiao in a thriller in May 2004. But instead of finding himself in a rematch, the hard punching Filipino fought Erik Morales instead. While Marquez wanted to face Pacquiao again, he wasn’t going to do it for less than what his opposition was to be paid.
After the close points loss to Morales on March 19, Pacquiao wants an immediate rematch with the 28 year-old Mexican and if not, a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera. Which leaves Marquez as a third option and again watching the really big fights from outside the ring.
“Obviously, I would like to fight Pacquiao,” Marquez said this week. “I would like to show the people who really won that fight on May 8 of last year. I think it would be another great fight.”
Marquez 43-2-1 (33) watched Morales vs. Pacquaio with great interest. “Eric did great,” he said. “I am sure he saw the video of our fight and was able to take advantage of everything we showed against him.”
While he considers himself a natural featherweight, Marquez is not opposed to moving up to junior lightweight to face Morales. “I have no problem fighting Eric Morales,” he said. “Those are the kinds of fights that I want to fight. That is what I am looking forward to, fighting the big names.”
While 28 year-old Morales 48-2 (34) would be a great fight for him, Marquez still wants to finish his business with 26 year-old Pacquiao 39-3-2 (31). “It was one of those fights where, when that happened (getting knocked down), all I could think about was my titles,” he recalled. “I worked so hard to get them. I had great conditioning. I knew I would be able to get up. After I got up, I knew I still had a lot left to fight and nobody is going to take my titles that easy. It took me a long time to get them and it was a very hard road to the championships and it is going to take an awful lot to take my titles away.”
31 year-old Marquez says that he got knocked down three times against Pacquiao because he was careless. “We knew it was going to be a tough fight, but from the way it started, I thought, ‘Wow, I can get to this guy,'” he said.
But before Marquez can worry about Pacquiao, Morales or anyone else, he must defeat Victor Polo on the Jose Luis Castillo vs. Diego Corrales lightweight unification card at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre in Las Vegas on Showtime.
“Right now, all I am focused on is May 7,” he said. “I know this is a fight that I need to win to even think about anything else. But as far as my career is concerned, I have no problem with defending my titles, staying here at 126, or going up to 130 if the opportunity is really good.”
Paul Upham Contributing Editor
