After suffering a disappointing loss to pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao on November 12th, thoughts of retirement were swirling through the mind of the universally recognized Lightweight division champ, Juan Manuel Marquez.
Most boxing fans who have followed the Mexican legend up and down the rocky path of his career know better. During his 18 years as a professional fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez has never walked away from a fight. Although he failed to capture the WBO Welterweight title on Saturday night, the Mexico City native did manage to obtain something that has been much more elusive to him than any belt that belongs to any sanctioning body.
Juan Manuel Marquez finally won the hearts and admiration of the general public.
Although “Dinamita” has collected 8 world titles in 3 different divisions, he never quite seemed to receive the recognition and adoration of the masses. It has been a long time coming…and at a time when it seemed as though he had lost his final attempt at eternal glory; the fans of the Mexican warrior have risen.
Over the last 48 hours, the outcry has been deafening. Words of encouragement and appreciation have overwhelmed every media outlet.
This isn’t the end…not by a long shot. The glory years for JMM have only just begun.
At the age of 38, Juan Manuel Marquez is about to get his due rewards for his lifelong service to the sport of boxing. There are many options and numerous foes left to conquer.
In the competitive Lightweight division, the current WBA Champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios has proven himself to be a worthy challenger. The strong Lubbock, TX, native would prove to be one of the more difficult opponents he could face at this juncture in his career.
But, would the risk reap the appropriate reward for the decorated Champion?
