It is one thing to fight through hundreds of opponents amongst the amateur ranks, then through the best in the world as a professional. But it is something altogether more to become the “poster-child” of an entire weight division. However, Mexican born, Juan Manuel Marquez, 46-3-1, 35 KO’s, has managed to do just that in addition to countless other unmatched accomplishments. No other fighter more completely defines the featherweight division as does Marquez.
Marquez has left an indelible mark on the face of boxing, as well as many indelible marks upon the faces of his opponents as he punished them round after round. What is it about Marquez that has given him such status? Is it power? Is it speed? Is it heart? Yes, to all three, and also so many more. The “small men” of boxing are meant to be technicians. They are not meant to be KO artists, yet Marquez has accumulated 35 KO’s from 46 victories. For you percentage buffs, that’s a KO percentage of 76%. Three out of every four Marquez victories have ended in a mandatory hospital visit and extensive examination for his opponent.
True, Marquez has also been on the losing end of the match three times now, the first as a result of a first round disqualification during his professional debut. The latter losses at least came to two of the most dangerous fighters in and around the featherweight division, Freddie Norwood (who has enjoyed two very recent victories since coming out of a near 6 year retirement), and Chris John, who to this day remains undefeated and the current WBA Featherweight Champion.
Though Marquez has thrilled boxing fans for over 13 years, at no time has his skill and determination ever been put on display as it was during his 2004 showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Coming into the fight, Pacquiao was already a world champion in two different weight classes. Though his reputation somewhat followed him from the lower divisions, this was to be a true coming out party for the “Pacman.” And come out he did. In the three short minutes of the first round, Pacquiao dropped Marquez three distinctly separate times.
What seemed like a highly unexpected walk in the park for Pacquiao would soon become the fight of his life. Marquez got his wits about him, and made Manny “pay” for his brashness. Round after brutal round, the two traded lightning fast combinations. Marquez bobbed and weaved and danced around the ring, firing missiles as Pacquiao darted in an out. Fans could ill afford to blink, for blinking meant that one missed combinations of four, five, and six power punches. That night spectators witnessed a “shoo-in” for Ring Magazine’s “Fight of the Year.” Sadly, but appropriately, that honor was later claimed by a November rumble between Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera that may very well have been the most exciting and action packed fight in the history of boxing.
When the final bell rang, Judge, John Stewart scored the bout 115-110 for Pacquiao, Judge, Guy Jutras saw Marquez winning by a 115-110 margin, but it was the 113-113 draw scored by Judge, Burt Clements. As the legend goes, Clement did not know that a single round could be scored as low as 10-6, and left the first round as a 10-7 round for Pacquiao. Should Clements have scored the round 10-6, as the other two judges did, Pacquiao would have won by a single round on a single card.
While most demanded an immediate rematch, the two fighters had different plans. Pacquiao was drawn to the heavier weights once again. After fighting one last featherweight battle against Fashan 3K Battery, Pacquiao leaped up to super featherweight to face Erik Morales four months after Morales lost to Barrera in the previously mentioned 2004 “Fight of the Year.”
While Pacquiao left the featherweight division altogether, Marquez stayed behind to defend his dual IBF and WBA Featherweight Titles. Marquez would make two successful defenses before vacating the IBF Belt and losing his WBA Belt to Chris John. Five months after his loss to John, Marquez fought and won the WBO’s share of the featherweight throne with a 7th round TKO of Terdsak Jandaeng (yes, his first name is pronounced just as it is spelled…try and keep childish banter to a minimum). Though this new title would only remain with Marquez under the pretenses of an “interim” title, Marquez would successful defend it against Jimrex Jaca in late November of last year.
Currently, both fighters have all but solidified separate opponents in the coming months. Come March, Marquez will take on Marco Antonio Barrera in what many speculate will be a farewell fight to Barrera (consequently, most feel that Marquez’s own farewell will come rather soon as well). Ultimately, it is Barrera who will decide when and how he will retire. Pacquiao, on the other hand, will take on Korean born, In Jin Chi. Chi scored a unanimous decision over Rodolfo Lopez to earn the WBC Featherweight Title. Chi will make the jump in weight division and hope to upset “Pacman,” who is at the top of his game.
Those who remember vividly that night over two years ago are left to ask themselves: “Don’t Marquez and Pacquiao have some unfinished business?” Can Marquez eventually move on and expect his place in boxing history to ever remain if he does not face Pacquiao? I think so. Marquez has done more than enough to earn his name the right to stand alongside the likes of Naseem Hamed, Johnny Kilbane, Vicente Saldivar, and Willie Pep. Though, I doubt there are many who would not like to see these two pint-sized warriors prove once and for all, who is king?
