?The worst enemy a fighter has is his family.??Ray Arcel
Once upon a time women, and of course children, were seen but not heard. Not anymore. Nowadays they are seen and heard. Whether or not they are paid any mind is another story.
It can?t be fun sitting ringside watching one?s spouse getting pounded. Even the winner gets bruised, if not battered, in the so-called bruising art.
After his knockout loss three weeks ago, Manny Pacquiao?s wife Jinkee has been imploring her husband to call it a day. Her entreaties, however heartfelt, however logical, will likely go unheeded.
And now Manny?s victor, Juan Manuel Marquez, is hearing the same thing from his wife Erika, who wants what Jinkee wants, and is as likely to taken as seriously as Jinkee is taken by Manny.
Before the fourth fight with Pacquiao, Erika Marquez said, ?I don?t go to the fights because Juan doesn?t like to mix business and family life. I don?t think you ever get used to it. We are always thinking positively that the fight will turn out alright. I don?t go to his fights because it makes me nervous and that is the least he needs, so we support him and allow him to do his job.?
Having done his job, with Erika sitting ringside, about as effectively as was humanly possible, Marquez?s wife, while happy her husband won, is unhappy at how Pacquiao lost.
?I?ve asked Juan to leave,? she says, according to Notifight.com, the Spanish language equivalent of BoxRec. ?He is receiving offers to continue fighting, but all of the money in the world won?t buy you another life, and no money in the world will buy you another brain.?
The subject of brains and boxing is too rarely discussed in our concussive sport, perhaps because it, and not PEDs, is the real elephant in the room.
?What I want is for him to retire,? continues Erika, ?and to devote his time to enjoying his family. When Juan fights I suffer enough. In this fight it was no exception. I saw Pacquiao?s wife crying, desperate to climb into the ring. She feared the worst. I saw what she felt, and I reflected and understood her suffering. I felt her anguish when I saw that Pacquiao did not move and did not get up.?
Many of us felt anguish as Pacquiao lay there unconscious, at the same time as others were jumping, and perhaps are still jumping, for joy.
?Since Juan came home after this victory I?ve said the same thing that I?m saying now?to stop boxing. In my way of thinking there is no turning back. He could leave right now?I know that is a difficult step, but it?s my opinion and I gave it.?
It sounds as though Erika has a mind of her own but will stand by her man no matter what. But she shouldn?t hold her breath. Her husband is on the cusp of making more money than either of them ever dreamed. Juan Manuel Marquez with fight again, and chances are it will be against Manny Pacquiao?despite Erika?s and Jinkee?s objections.
