At the end of the day it?s hard to say who is the better fighter: Manny Pacquiao or Juan Manuel Marquez?
While Marquez most likely has established himself as the premier Mexican fighter of a generation, Pacquiao?s moniker as the Mexican assassin still lives on albeit just barely. After seeing both fighters in the ring for twenty four rounds, there still seems to be unfinished business between the two.
We are left wondering if we get to see this rivalry become like Leonard-Duran, in that it spans years and weight divisions. Or if this will always be unfinished business like Leonard-Hearns was? We all have been hearing about Pacquiao?s next fight but what?s next for Juan Manuel Marquez?
At this point in his career it would seem to be important for Marquez to go out and make the most meaningful fights possible. If he decides to stay at 130 he would have a few choices. One would be Joan Guzman, assuming he wins his May 3 bout with Alex Arthur. This fight has the potential to be a snooze fest but most likely would turn out to be a boxing technician?s dream match-up. Guzman is a great athlete with good hand speed, a good chin, and he punches hard enough to do some damage
Another fight, and my favorite out of all, would be a fight against unbeaten, untested Edwin Valero. He?s an underground legend with a record of 23-0 with 23 knockouts. Valero is in need of a career defining fight, and of course if Marquez ever wants to climb back in the ring with Pacquiao again and prove he?s dominant, this might be the type of fight that helps prepare him for the whirlwind we call Manny
Both fighters, Guzman and Valero hold belts in the super featherweight division and both are undefeated. Knocking either of them off would be a big notch on Marquez? belt
One more option at 130 could be an all out brawl with Humberto Soto. After losing to Guzman, Soto has only fought once winning by knockout. No doubt he wants a fight to regain momentum and a bout with Marquez could do just that. However this fight might be just added wear and tear on Marquez? body and while it would be a fan-friendly event a win probably doesn?t put Marquez in any position higher than what he is now.
There has been much talk about a third fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. The Marquez people want it, the fans want it but at this point I?m not so sure Manny wants it. Of course the all knowing Arum has nixed that idea for the moment. So the question becomes does Marquez stay at 130 and take some of the options we just mentioned, or follow Pacquiao up to lightweight
If Marquez campaigned at lightweight there?s a chance that he could do something that both matches as well as surpasses what his contemporaries (Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera) have been able to do. He could become a three division champ like both of them, but he could also become the only one to successfully move up to the lightweight division and capture a title.
Now of course a third fight with Pacquiao is no doubt in his mind, but after seeing them fight on Saturday it would probably take an act of God for Arum to put Manny in with Juan again. Arum has outlined a plan for Pacquiao that consist of David Diaz for the WBC title and then if he?s successful, a fight later in the year with Nate Campbell for all the marbles.
While I for one look forward to Campbell-Pacquiao (which if feel would be eerily similar to Hopkins-Trinidad), it would be a major move if Marquez in the meantime somehow slipped in and grabbed an opportunity to fight for three of the four lightweight titles against Campbell. Marquez-Campbell could be an interesting fight. Most people would say that Campbell wins hands down. But a technical fighter like Marquez could possibly present some problems for Campbell. If Marquez were to pull off a win, not only would be a huge accomplishment but Pacquiao would most definitely be forced to fight him for all the belts at lightweight which would be a huge event.
Besides Campbell a fight with former champ Juan Diaz would be an all action, toe to toe battle that would definitely be another fan favorite and could produce the most worthy challenger in the division.
Marquez? options seem to be wide open at the moment. The question is what will he choose to do? Winning meaningful fights will keep us talking about him and will hopefully lead to another confrontation with Manny Pacquiao. Personally I?d be interested in seeing him campaign at lightweight but the again a fight Valero would not be bad either.
