KEEPING IT REAL: MARQUEZ REAL AVERAGE
Las Vegas, NV- Having followed the career of Manny Pacquiao for many years prior to his beating Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001 for the IBF 122 lb. title, I think I can honestly assess his positives and negatives. The same applies to tomorrow?s opponent Juan Manuel Marquez. Watching him climb the ratings, I feel Marquez?s claim to fame is that first clash with Manny in 2004 where Marquez was rendered horizontal many times in the first two rounds before Pacquiao “gassed” and was forced the 12-round distance.
DOWN MORE THAN THAT NYC HOOKER!
With the end result being a majority 12-round draw, people praised Marquez for his evening the score, this seeing he was down more than one of former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer?s hookers. In my mind, this was the best effort of Marquez?s career, as I can still remember his oh so boring 12-rounder with Freddie Norwood. To his backers, Juan put forth his best effort when he bested Marco Antonio Barrera in his last fight prior to tomorrow?s rematch with Pacquiao.
CAN?T PRAISE JMM VS. 2007’S BARRERA
For this reporter, that notion rings about as true as saying Larry Holmes? best effort was his pounding on a 38-year old Thyrolar weakened Muhammad Ali in 1980. Because whether or not you want to accept it as fact, Barrera was ?beyond? shot when he climbed through the ropes with Marquez last year. With a strong national (see Mexican) following, Marquez is revered at home in part because Mexico isn?t producing the A-list fighters it once was. But if you were to put Marquez on TV solo, or measured his live gates against people other than Barrera and Pacquiao, he couldn?t draw more flies than an outhouse in Tijuana.
THINK I?M BEING ROUGH ON JMM?
Labeling Juan Manuel Marquez as overrated would be kind. To call him a ?super fighter? is such a stretch that it boggles the mind of somebody that has been penning the pugilistic world of for three decades. Marquez is a counter puncher, one who has put this writer to sleep on more than one occasion. And still, the majority of the so-called boxing media consider Juan a great professional. This may have a lot to do with the fact that most of today?s boxing pundits have never laced up the gloves themselves, nor have they studied pugilistic history.
CREDIT PROMOTER & SUB-PAR FOES!
Juan Marquez is where he?s at because of astute promoting, not because Marquez has an abundance of talent. Most of the fighters he faced were ?second? tier opposition at best. And don?t forget, he lost to Chris John, even though some called it a robbery, Marquez ended up in Indonesia after his not so smart management team (headed by Nacho Berastein) turned down a pot full of cash to fight for a Pacquiao rematch to instead fight John at home in Indonesia for far less than six-figures. Even Bob Arum, his then promoter, he too realized Juan?s limitations as Top Rank didn?t even put forth a bid to promote John-Marquez.
TIME IS NOT ON MARQUEZ?S SIDE HERE
Almost four years after the draw with Pacquiao, and two years since John, Marquez at 34 years of age is going to cash in with the Pacquiao rematch tomorrow. And if you think I was harsh in saying he?s fared well because of second-tier opposition, look at the guys Juan?s faced since Pacquiao. There was Jimrex Jaca, an already exposed (as limited) Rocky Juarez, Terdsak Jandaeng, Victor Polo, Orlando Salido, Chris John, and the aforementioned Marco Antonio Barrera. This list comprises of claiming type horses and an aged stallion in Barrera. Bottom line here is Marquez isn?t close to being a ?great? fighter. Not by Mexican standards, and certainly not by mine!
