Juan Manuel Marquez entered the ring Saturday as an unknown commodity. When he walked out, he was a proven one.
It’s not every day you topple a legend and in soundly defeating Marco Antonio Barrera for the WBC super featherweight title, Marquez proved that he was the rightful challenger to Manny Pacquiao, who is regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the division. The aggressor from the opening bell, Marquez assailed the more experienced Barrera with a flurry of power punches while showcasing enough technical skill to keep the more experienced Barrera at bay.
It was the crowning achievement for Marquez, who in recent years has been victimized by poor performances (a stunning loss to Chris John in Indonesia last year) and poor management (no one thought he should have gone to Indonesia to fight John in the first place). The victory over Barrera should signal the beginning of a string of high-profile fights (or at least lucrative paydays) that could begin with a rematch against Barrera and will inevitably culminate with a showdown with Pacquiao, whom Marquez battled to a draw in 2004.
For Barrera, Saturday’s loss may be the final fight in what has been one of boxing’s most celebrated careers. Barrera was competitive — he stunned Marquez several times and was robbed of a clear knockdown in the seventh round — but all three judges preferred Marquez’s power punching to Barrera’s counter punching and surgical strikes.
Though the younger fighter on Saturday, Barrera has been through some of boxing’s bloodiest wars and may not be motivated to begin yet another climb back to the top. If he does, Marquez appeared more than willing to grant a rematch to his fellow Mexican — though he will have to decide quickly. Pacquiao has been on Marquez’s brain since their epic battle in ’04 and in order for Marquez to cement his legacy he will have to do more than batter an old veteran, no matter how legendary that veteran is.
