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TIME TO MOVE ON JUAN By Nick Alejo PhilBoxing.com Fri, 11 Apr 2008 Why is Team Marquez so dead eager to have a rematch with the Pacman? Aside from the obvious fact that Juan is trying to race against father time, since he's turning 35 later this year, it's starting to become a bore to read and listen to Marquez's demand for a trilogy. The contract for the Diaz-Pacquiao fight on June 28 is being finalized, if not already signed and sealed. So it makes little sense or no sense at all for Marquez to make all these demands for an immediate third match. And his recent actions are looking more of a desperation act to catch attention. Definitely he didn't flew all the way from Mexico to the Big Dome because he wanted to watch Kid El Terrible fight. It appeared more like he misses Manny so much and wanted to see if maybe he could convince Manny to agree to a third dance. As I was watching Juan Manuel walks towards Manny at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday, there was a funny thought in my mind that as soon they meet eye to eye and come within a breath away, he would suddenly kneel on one knee and take out a ring from his pocket with the encryption, "Manny, will you give me a third chance please?" And when the spotlight would suddenly focus on Manny's face while everyone would be holding their breathe waiting if Pac would say "yes" to JMM. But my weird thought was short lived as spectators started to swarm around them forming a circle as if Kimbo Slice was about to engage Ryu in a fist fight. I was few feet away but couldn't hear what they were saying. The only thing I heard was few moments of laughter between Manny and Juan as well as the people around them. What were they saying to each other? I could only speculate. Let's try one: JMM: Hi Manny, how's your cut? MP: Fine, how's yours? JMM: Getting better. BTW, How 'bout a third fight? MP: Sure. I'll setup a one on one meeting between Quintana and Bob Arum to discuss the details. (laughter) Quintana: Fine with me, as long as he doesn't tell me to shut #@&^ up. (laughter). Seriously, Marquez should realize and accept the fact that boxing is business. And although a third fight could generate lots of $$$ for all parties involved, it would not be a wise move for Manny to engage him right away. As we all know, they (JMM and PAC) are a great and evenly matched-up athletes. Their fight could be another hit in the PPV as well as at the gates in case they meet for a third match. But maybe this evenness in their match up is what's preventing the fight to happen right away. If I were Arum, why would I risk a Pacquiao loss against Marquez if we can earn the same amount and maybe even more and at the same time build a more solid legacy by fighting other heavier champions with bigger names than Marquez? If there's any boxer that Pac has fought that has a very good chance of beating him, it would be Juan Manuel. And Team Marquez knows it that's why they're insisting for a rubber match. Unfortunately for Team Marquez Bob Arum knows that as well. So I guess with that said, for now Marquez should try to look for other big fights aside from Manny because Arum will not risk it. The reward for Manny is good but the risk is greater. If Marquez had beaten Manny last March 15, it would've been a totally different story because of the rematch clause. Let's rewind four years back. After their first fight, Marquez declined an immediate rematch with the Pacman and decided to fly to Indonesia to fight Chris John for a minimal 5 digit paycheck. Manny didn't bother to run after him like what he is doing right now. Instead, Pacquiao looked for other big fights. Enter Eric Morales. Manny's trilogy with Morales came after Marquez played hard to get. And it was a blessing in disguise for Pacman because his three fights with the great El Terrible propelled him to greater heights. Marquez, now, should try to do the same and look for other career defining fights aside from Pacquiao. The playing field in the 130-135 division has so many options and Marquez should try to exploit these options instead of running after Manny like an obsessed lover. If GBP would allow it, a Marquez vs. Juan Diaz bout seems like an interesting fight, as well as Valero vs JMM with the victor earning a dinner date with Manny at the Palm Hotel. Joan Guzman would be another option although their fight could turn out to be a waiting game with either man refusing to make the initiative. Then there's Joel "Fountain of Youth" Casamayor and Katsidis as well. There's also Marco Antonio Barrera whom he could try to wake up from its semi-retirement and face in a rematch. Or Juan could jump to Nate and try to steal his belts since Campbell seems next on Manny's radar. See? There's a lot of options for Marquez and mostly are GBP fighters which would make the fights easier to arrange. At the end of the day, who knows when these two great fighters, Juan and Manny would ever meet atop the ring again. There's no assurance that it would even happen. But if ever a third fight is made, it would be a disgrace if either man is no longer on his prime as it will taint the once great rivalry of these two great warriors. Let's just hope that while these two great boxers head towards opposite path on their next bout or couple of bouts, that they will each continue to build their own legacy and continue to cement their place in boxing history. Also I'm hoping that one day, like soul mates in a romantic movie, they'll meet again. But not in a scene where they are running in the beach towards each other with arms wide open while the film plays it on slomo. But rather atop the ring throwing left straights and right hooks as a sign of their undying quest for boxing supremacy. Someday it will happen, I know it will, and on that day they will finally put an end to their great great epic story. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nick Alejo.  |
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