Juan Manuel Marquez is looking for a scrap.
Three times he has extended the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing, Manny Pacquiao, to 12-round firefights. And three times, he has come up painfully short. The last one, in November, may have been the worst of all. Most observers thought Marquez clearly won. Instead, it was the second split-decision loss.
Now, Marquez finds himself having to pass time with the likes of unknown Serhiy Fedchenko in his hometown of Mexico City just to stay in the hunt for one more big money fight. At age 38, “Dinamita” can’t afford to wait on Pacquiao.
If he wins, Marquez will likely meet former WBA lightweight champ Brandon Rios, provided “Bam Bam” beats sub Richard Abril in Las Vegas on the Top Rank split-site twin bill (7 p.m. today, pay-per-view).
If it all works out, Marquez will get his scrap. And the winners will be boxing fans. Because Marquez-Rios would be explosive.
First things first
Marquez, 53-6-1 (39 knockouts), has quietly built a r?sum? that compares favorably to the great Mexican fighters in history. A three-division champion, Marquez has beaten, among others, Orlando Salido (W 12), Marco Antonio Barrera (W 12), Joel Casamayor (TKO 11), Juan Diaz (TKO 9, W 12) and Michael Katsidis (TKO 9).
But he is best known for his trilogy with Pacquiao.
In three fights, neither fighter has gained a clear advantage over the other. Both of the split-decision losses could have easily gone to Marquez, and the 2004 draw is among the most controversial verdicts in recent boxing history.
Most thought that the “new” Pacquiao — the one better-conditioned and supposedly technically improved — would roll right through Marquez in the rubber match five months ago. But it was Marquez who controlled the pace, landed the cleaner, more damaging blows, and who appeared to frustrate Pacquiao with his brilliant counterpunching skills.
Marquez, however, was the one who went home frustrated. Again.
At age 38, it’s got to be difficult for Marquez to get up for someone like Fedchenko, 30-1 (13 KOs). Not that the Ukrainian is a bad fighter. And he’s a much better selection than original opponent, Cesar Cuenca, who has one knockout in 42 fights.
Still, Marquez is a pro’s pro. And he’s in a much different league than Fedchenko.
He’ll get some work from the Ukrainian. Then he’ll unload on him.
Marquez by 9th-round knockout.
Bam Bam up next
That leaves Oxnard’s Rios, 29-0-2 (22 KOs), having to thwart Miami’s Abril, 17-2-1 (8 KOs). …
Rios’ opponent was originally to have been Yuriorkis Gamboa in what would’ve been one of the most anticipated fights of 2012. But Gamboa decided to play games, refusing to show up to press conferences due to a contractual dispute. When that fight fell apart, in came Abril, who did his best to sell tickets.
Rios and Abril have been in a couple altercations so far, and Top Rank thought it wise for them not to engage in a pose-down at the final press conference. Given Rios’ quick temper, that was probably a good call.
Rios, simply, is on the brink of superstardom. He had three huge wins in defeating Miguel Acosta (KO 10), Urbano Antillon (KO 3) and John Murray (KO 11) last year and was named the El Paso Times’ “Fighter of the Year.” He is tough, carries serious knockout power, and may be the best body puncher in boxing.
He is also an interesting character.
Rios will stop Abril in round eight, and set up what may be a fight for the ages against Marquez.
July 14 in Cowboys Stadium can’t come soon enough.
