Those Beastie Boys sang about how you’ve got to fight for your right to party.
My twist on this is to say that Juan Manuel Marquez has got to fight to go to Manny Pacquiao’s 32nd birthday party.
The Mexican counterpuncher, now age 37, has one Christmas wish and it’s to nail down a third bout against the Pinoy Idol.
But that awful Scrooge named Robert Arum (turning 79 Wednesday) has spurned and ridiculed the purse request from Marquez representative Richie Rich Schaefer and won’t even put any coal in Juan Ma’s holiday stocking which must be hung by the chimney with care.
Desperate times require desperate measures and it’s time for Marquez, who had a pleasurable and profitable visit to the Philippines in 2008, to make his air travel booking immediately if not sooner.
He knows the route, Mexico City to LA, LA to Manila, Manila to General Santos City.
Flash back to Marquez’s 2008 visit:
“(Eric) Gomez said that Marquez said he wanted to ?go out there (to the Philippines) because I have gotten so much support from the Filipino people and I want to thank them personally? .Marquez .who lost his WBC super featherweight title in a split decision to Pacquiao last June 15 which most journalists and fight fans claimed could have gone either way, is on his first visit to the Philippines and indicated he ?just wanted to enjoy the show.? Gomez said ?a lot of people in the Philippines supported him , they really like his style , the way he fights and some people are saying he won and he just wants to come over and say thank you.”
Gomez guaranteed that there wouldn?t be ?anything disrespectful? because they are both ?nice guys and champions and at the end of the day they both are respectful of each other and there?s not going to be anything disrespectful whatsoever.”
Responding to the statements of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who doesn?t want a Pacquiao-Marquez rematch right now Gomez said ?I have to disagree because I don?t think its Bob Arum ?s decision. I think its Manny?s decision . If Manny wants a rematch he?ll have it. He is the boss. He can go to Arum and s ay, you know what I don?t want to fight David Diaz, I want Marquez.????Gomez stressed that if Pacquiao doesn?t fight Marquez against ?its because Manny doesn?t want to.?
(Eric Gomez is the Golden Boy matchmaker and a good one, it says here.)
I ask, isn’t Marquez sitting in the same position now, wondering if Mosley is being shoved down Pacman’s throat?
Marquez has nothing to lose by making a second sojourn to Pacman’s homeland.
Can you imagine what the sight of Marquez “crashing” the Pacman party would do to Scrooge Arum and his cohort, Tiny Tim (Michael Koncz)? They would probably drop their egg nog glasses.
Everyone knows what a gracious host Pacquiao is and I’m sure that he would not ban a respected opponent–and Juan Ma is all that and a bag of tortilla chips–from his Dec. 17 soiree.
In fact, what with the news that Top Rank chattel Juan Ma Lopez will be in attendance, Manny could then boast of having not one but two Juan Manuels in attendance.
Maybe Pacmom could even take a dancing turn with the fiery Puerto Rican ring star and the urine-swilling Mexicano.
Think what that might do for foreign relations. I bet even President Noynoy Aquino would duly note such diplomatic conduct by the Congressmanny from Sarangani.
More seriously, Marquez pleading his case in person to Pacman might get what he so fiercely desires.
He could cancel out the Sugar Shane Mosley next foe votes of Arum and Koncz by coming to Gensan in a humble manner (but no need for a bended knee) and stating his case.
In speaking face to face to Pacquiao, Marquez would be speaking to the organ grinder and not the monkeys who dance in front of him.
Is there a wild card in the Pacman camp? Pardon the pun but I think there is.
I think Coach Freddie Roach could tip the balance in Marquez’s favor if he wants to.
Having been a pro fighter and having stayed in the ring too long, Roach would have an emotional appreciation for Marquez’s bid for a final big bout and one last major payday.
(Mosley is even older, I know, but does not have the shared history JMM has with Megamanny.)
Juan Ma’s got to fight for his right to take a Pacquiao pasting.
Marquez will look like a big donkey, if he just sits on his ass in Mexico City, when he has a royal opportunity to go the Manny who supposedly makes the final call on who he fights.
He should’ve been in Dallas, like Mosley and adviser James Prince were after the Margarito beatdown but what’s not done is not done, I guess.
Does Manny call his own shots or does he just rubber stamp Arum’s premade decisions?
All Marquez has to do is make the small investment of roundtrip airfare and a couple of nights in a hotel to plead his case to the supposed Boss with the Hot Sauce.
If he does not take this shot, then I, for one, won’t listen to his weeping and gnashing of teeth any more.
It’s time for Marquez to be an action figure and get on the next thing smoking to the Philippines.
Who knows, he might even land a commercial or endorsement or two while he’s there, where he’s already been warmly embraced by the citizenry, and thus pay for the trip.
Maybe he will even get a special tour of Congress and Malacanang from the Honorable Congressman.
Juan Ma, contact your travel agent now or forever hold your peace.
The only thing you must avoid in Pacland is ubiquitous Chino “Hoops” Trinidad and his too fiery peppers.
The Pinoy peppers are no relation to Pepper Roach or so I am told by Hermie “Jalapeno Martini” Rivera.
