LOS ANGELES ? Juan Manuel Marquez, heartbroken from the loss dealt by Manny Pacquiao over the weekend in Las Vegas, told the Mexican media upon his arrival in Mexico City that the World Boxing Council (WBC) may have something to do with his loss.
But Marquez did not elaborate on the matter but sounded convinced that he was robbed of a decision win that cost him the WBC super-featherweight crown at Mandalay Bay.
“Mano negra (black hand),” Marquez, 34, told Notimex when he set foot in Mexico City on Sunday. “I won the fight and I did better things than Pacquiao but the judges saw a different fight and gave the win to the Filipino, who did not deserve it.”
Marquez was joined in the trip from the US by trainer Nacho Beristain, doctor Plutarco Gatica and conditioning coach Raul de Andes.
Marquez cited the first round of the scheduled 12-rounder which all three judges ? Tom Miller, Jerry Roth and Duane Ford ? scored in favor of Pacquiao despite him connecting a big right hand that snapped Pacquiao?s head backwards.
Pacquiao was declared winner by split decision. The two had battled to a split draw the first time they met in May 2004.
“The public saw that I won the fight,” said Marquez, who is craving to be given a rubber match at the soonest possible time although it might not take place anytime soon owing to the 29-year-old Pacquiao?s contractual obligations as well as the wound that he sustained during the fight.
“The wound was caused by the punishment inflicted by Marquez,” Beristain said.
Marquez has been advised by Golden Boy Promotions to rest for some weeks but he should be ready to get back into training once negotiations get underway between the California-based outfit and the Bob Arum?s Top Rank, which is headquartered in Las Vegas.
