Juan Manuel Marquez is in the sunset stage of a legendary career; already ensured a plaque in the Hall of Fame, he plays the role of prodigal son against Sergey Fedchenko in his hometown of Mexico City. Marquez does not seem to be looking past Fedchenko as the boxing press at large is, deflecting questions about a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao, countryman Erik Morales or rising star Brandon Rios as adroitly as punches in a sparring session. Speculation about elite opponents arises because the 38-year-old warhorse is far from a spent bullet despite engaging in 444 professional rounds over a 19-year professional career. Tonight?s fight has the feel of a homecoming celebration masquerading as a pay-per-view headliner but because Marquez refuses to see it as such is precisely why he remains as dangerous inside the ring.
In his last fight, Marquez surprised boxing experts and fans alike by frustrating pound-for-pound great Manny Pacquiao with a brilliant display of counterpunching. Many not sitting in the three ringside judges seats saw Marquez the winner, clearly admiring the way a smaller Marquez defused Pacquiao?s bombs while remaining in the danger zone. It was a perilous strategy that only someone with Marquez?s experience, muscle memory and nerves would dare employ. Marquez exceeded everyone?s expectations and is the main reason why his name is bandied about in mega-fights against young stars like Brandon Rios, Amir Khan and Tim Bradley if a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao does not materialize.
The emotional toll of losing a second time (the first bout was a draw) to Manny Pacquiao nearly drove a frustrated Marquez into retirement as it did Marvin Hagler over 25 years ago. Marquez believes the judges worked to deprive him of two other wins against his archenemies as well. ?I won the last fight and I feel very angry about that decision. I considered retiring but everybody knows I want to fight Manny again.? Ultimately, it is Marquez?s love of the sport that drew him back and the opportunity to headline a card in his beloved Mexico City after an absence of over 17 years. ?The most important thing is I like to fight and I will fight on April 14th. I feel very happy because I get to give back to my country and people want to see this fight.?
The positive images and reviews the Pacquiao fight drew did much to make people forget a lopsided loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. (when Mayweather weighed in over the contracted weight), as well as exciting but harder than expected battles against Juan Diaz, Joel Casamayor and Michael Katsidis. No doubt, some of those performances linger in the back of Marquez?s mind as he put himself through a cruel three-month training camp, which few saw as any less intense than preparations for Pacquiao. Trainer Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain said they have concentrated on speed this time and Marquez hinted their strategy could revolve around taking Fedchenko apart from the outside.
If Marquez is looking past Fedchenko, he?s hiding it well in the gym as well as in interviews. Ukrainian Sergey Fedchenko is a fundamentally sound jabber and is naturally bigger than Marquez, only losing once via majority decision. The footage I viewed showed a boxer that uses a lot of movement, high guard and good reflexes. However, Fedchenko has faded in fights, losing form and looping punches as fatigue set in. Marquez saw more, ?Fedchenko has a difficult style, one of those European fighters who are hard to decipher. But I believe that as the rounds wear on, we are going to try to decipher his style and we are going to work with experience and intelligence- and even with a lot of speed.? Marquez stressed that for him to win easily, he could not take the opponent for granted, ?We have prepared without taking anything for granted. We are getting ready just as hard as we did against Pacquiao.?
Promoter Bob Arum has seen other legendary champions in his stable upended by unheralded opponents over the course of a nearly 50-year career but does not sense Marquez will suffer that fate. ?You have to understand that Juan Manuel is a serious man. Boxing is his profession and he takes it seriously, so he keeps himself in great shape. He doesn?t get out of shape.? Further expanding on his line of thought, Arum thinks it is a team effort that goes beyond the gym and into Marquez?s personal life. ?He is always prepared with his trainer and somebody who lives with that discipline, fights for longer than a person that doesn?t.? If Marquez emerges victorious, Arum has hinted he plans on featuring Marquez in a big card held at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas this July.
Tonight?s fight is held at the New Mexico City Arena, obviously in Mexico City, a location that is key to a Marquez who sees the finish line of his career approaching on the horizon. Marquez, like many of us old folks, is getting somewhat sentimental, wanting Mexican fans to witness his abilities while they are still sharp. ?It?s a great joy, a great satisfaction to be able to return to my hometown in Mexico City and fight again for my people.? Marquez understands there are expectations that have to be met fighting at home. ?To me, it?s a great feeling but also a great responsibility and we have to give our best. Here in Mexico, people are very knowledgeable when it comes to boxing, so coming here and fighting again in Mexico City is a great pride but also we need to demonstrate that we want to give people a great show.?
One of the few negatives around Marquez and this fight is the bogus ?interim? title which has been affixed to the fight by the WBO. Some media outlets (usually the regular sports media who lack understanding of boxing and simply rehash press releases) have focused on the phony belt, claiming Marquez will become only the second Mexican boxer to win titles in four weight classes. Ignoring that this fight is for an interim belt and that the real champion remains Tim Bradley or that Erik Morales? own claim to champion status in four weight classes is just as spurious, given the WBC stripped real champion Tim Bradley to pave the way for Morales to beat late substitute Pablo Cano. Leave it to the sanctioning bodies to drag down and sully Marquez, though he does share some blame for repeating the WBO line that a win would make him a champion at four weight classes.
If Marquez dispatches of Fedchenko in style, as most expect, the attention turns toward the immediate future and attractive opponents. First and foremost on Marquez?s wish list is a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao. No matter what foe Marquez has in front of him, Pacquiao is always in the back of his mind. ?We know that this is the fight that I want, that this is the fight that we won [in our third meeting] and it is also the fight that people is asking to see. But, well, I believe that Pacquiao?s team and Pacquiao himself don?t want to see me ever again, not even in pictures.? The lingering resentment and sense of injustice is obvious. ?We beat them three times and I believe I?m a little stone in his shoe that is hurting him and, in one way or another, is bothering them. Because we showed that we can beat him three times in a row. So we?ll see what happens and if that fight comes along for later this year, it will be welcomed.?
Sharing the PPV card as the co-main event with Marquez is rising young assassin Brandon Rios, whom many see as a logical second choice if a fourth Pacquiao bout does not materialize. Although non-committal about Rios, matador Marquez is not unaware of a bullish Rios while downplaying Rios? status. ?Well, we?ll have to see about that. Brandon Rios is a good fighter but I always thought that in order to be the best, you have to fight the best. And if that fight comes along and I beat him… who did I beat, really? He is not an outstanding fighter with the great name of a marquee fighter. We want to fight a marquee fighter so I can say, ?I beat a great fighter? or ?I was beaten by a great fighter.?? Arum, who promotes both, seems pensive about the matchup despite making preparations. ?First they have to win and then they have to agree to the fight. We haven?t talked to either of them yet about terms and so forth. We are holding Cowboys Stadium [for July 14th] in Arlington, Texas for the match if we make it but one step at a time.?
The third and most difficult opponent that Juan Manuel Marquez faces is undefeated knockout artist Father Time.
