Considering their bitter rivalry in the ring, it is difficult to fathom Mexican Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez imitating a Manny Pacquiao maneuver.
But Marquez is doing just that, stressing he is tossing his hat into the political arena after being inspired by rival Pacquiao who is now a senator possibly eyeing the Philippine presidency in the national elections next year.
A four-division (featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and welterweight) world boxing champion, Marquez retired in 2014 with a record of 56-7, 1 draw and 40 knockouts.
Marquez figured in four memorable fights with Pacquiao, winning the last one in December 2012 with an emphatic sixth round stoppage.
While already retired, the 47-year-old Marquez is banking on his legendary boxing resume to secure a congressional post in the legislative elections scheduled in June. If elected, Marquez has vowed to “knockout corruption.”
Marquez is looking to represent the Gustavo Madero district which has become the second most violent area in Mexico City. Marquez has vowed to put up boxing gyms in the area as part of his plan to curb said violence.
Marquez is also booked to take on retired Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto in an exhibition bout in June, in the same month of the legislative elections. The fight will consist of eight two-minute rounds, bigger gloves, albeit with no headgear.
Clearly, Marquez is using his boxing clout to gather votes.
To his credit, Marquez remains in excellent physical shape and looks ready for a real fight in the ring.
For the record, Marquez is the latest boxing champion to seek an electoral post. Everybody already knows the story of Pacquiao but there were a handful of champions who also dipped their fingers into the political jar.
Alexis Arguello, easily the greatest boxing champion of Nicaragua, was elected vice mayor of Managua, Nicaragua, in 2004. Four years later, in 2008, Arguello was voted mayor of the same place. Arguello’s political career was however, cut short when he allegedly committed suicide in July 2009.
At the time of his death, there were reports Arguello had grown disenchanted with his political party and was planning to sever ties.
Arguello boxed from 1968 to 1995, winning world titles in the featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight divisions. He figured in several memorable contests, including two slugfests with American Aaron Pryor.
Arguello also posted victories over Filipinos Rolando Navarrete, Rey Tam and Andy Ganigan. Arguello retired with a record of 77-8 with 62 knockouts.
Former two-time world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko currently sits as the mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine. He became actively involved in politics in 2005, when he was still an active fighter and eventually pursued an electoral post after he retired from the fight game in December 2013.
Klitschko packs solid academic credentials. He is on record for being the first world boxing champion to have a doctorate degree. This explains why Klitschko was billed as “Dr. Iron Fist” during his reign as heavyweight champ.
Klitschko briefly held the WBO heavyweight title in 1999-2000. He won the WBC heavyweight title in April 2004 and made 11 successful defenses. Klitschko retired with a record of 45-2 with 41 knockouts.
In 2014, Klitschko announced his candidacy for the presidency of Ukraine but later withdrew the same to settle for the mayoralty post. It is safe to say Klitschko, only 49, has not totally closed the door on the possibility of becoming the president of Ukraine.
Eder Jofre is widely regarded as Brazil’s greatest boxing champion.
Jofre fought from 1957 until 1976, winning world titles in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. He fought in several unforgettable fights, including two brawls with Japanese Fighting Harada.
Following his retirement in 1976, Jofre entered politics and in 1982 ran for alderman (a member of the municipal council) in Sao Paulo. He was active in politics until 2000.
Jofre was once asked to choose between boxing and politics. He minced no word, claiming he prefers boxing over politics because in boxing the fighter knows who he is actually facing.
Words of wisdom from Jofre, something Marquez and Pacquiao may want to bear in mind.
