It has been over a week since we saw Juan Manuel Marquez turn back the clock and put on a master class display of boxing skill and craft against Mike Alvarado. With the win, Marquez opened the door to a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao, but also opened himself up to questions on how a man nearly 41 years old, is getting stronger and faster with age.
In part 1 of my interview with Timothy Bradley, I get his thoughts on the performance of Juan Manuel Marquez, and why he believes Marquez looked so good in the fight. Tim also talks about what?s next for Marquez and if he thinks we should see a fifth between Pacquiao & Marquez. Additionally Bradley gives his views on a fifth bout, and how he ultimately thinks it plays out. Here is what Timothy Bradley had to say.
Jenna J: Tim, recently Juan Manuel Marquez returned to the ring against Mike Alvarado, and at the age of 40 he looked as good as ever. Why do you think he looked so good?
Timothy Bradley: Well Mike was pretty much tailor made for him. Mike comes forward, a little bit slower than Marquez, a tough guy ? Mike is a very tough guy, he can take a lot of shots, he?s got a beard on him, but he was tailor made for Marquez.
Marquez typically has problems with guys that can move in and out on him, that has a little bit more speed then him. If you look at all of his loses, he lost to mostly boxers, so Mike was pretty much tailor made for him.
Jenna: One of the biggest moments of the fight was in the 8th round, in which Marquez landed a counter fight hand that floored Alvarado. Were you surprised that Alvarado was able to recover from that shot?
Bradley: I wasn?t really surprised that he got up from that. Like I said, Alvarado is a tough guy, he can take a punch, he has a strong beard on him. It was a big shot by Marquez ? that would of ended anybody?s lights that night.
Mike Alvarado is tough, tough guy, huge heart, and he got up and finished the fight. You got to respect Mike Alvarado, he always comes to fight, he always puts on a great show, and he always puts his heart into it. Tough guy, he?s a warrior.
Jenna: Having seen the performance of Marquez, where do you think he should go from here?
Bradley: I don?t know, its up to him. He?s fought everybody, it?s all up to him and what he wants to do. He said that he?s gonna go back home and rest and think about what?s best for him. I?m sure everybody is talking about a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao.
I don?t know how difficult it?s gonna be because they?ve already announced that Manny Pacquiao will be in Macau fighting his next opponent, and they?re hoping that Marquez agrees to go to Macau and have a fifth fight there.
I know the next question is gonna be, do I think he should fight Marquez? It?s always a good fight, it?s always entertaining ? why not? Yeah it?s the fifth time, but a good fight is a good fight. It doesn?t matter how many times you fight, it?s a good fight.
Jenna: In the past you told me, ?Why would we want to see a fifth Pacquiao-Marquez fight, haven?t these guys beat up each other enough times?? Is your opinion still the same?
Bradley: I mean, it?s still the same but the fact that Manny Pacquiao beat me and the fact that Marquez looked sensational in his fight, that?s the only real road these two guys can actually go right now. It makes sense, it?s been over a year since they fought. I think this fight is definitely materialized and warmed up and I think it?s time.
The fact that Manny beat me ? Manny wants to redeem that knockout loss he suffered about a year ago to Marquez. Manny?s given Marquez a lot of rematches, give Manny his rematch and got at it for a fifth time.
Jenna: Pacquiao wants to redeem himself, that?s something that you felt when you were pursuing the Pacquiao rematch. How much of a burning desire is that for a fighter, when you have that hanging over you?
Bradley: Well, it?s like I couldn?t sleep at night. I can sleep very well now, but it was just something that I felt I had to revisit in my boxing career before I could actually move on and move forward in my career.
It just always eats away at you ? I know Manny?s seen the pictures and different things of him on the ground being knocked out. I know he wants to erase that from people?s minds, especially his fan?s minds and knock out Marquez if he can.
Jenna: You are a recent opponent of both Pacquiao and Marquez. How do you think that fight plays out now based on the way both have fought recently?
Bradley: Oh man, Marquez is just tough, Pacquiao is tough too. These guys ? two different styles ? I don?t know, I honestly really don?t know. I think it?s gonna be an entertaining fight.
Marquez is always smart, and Pacquiao is a lot quicker than Marquez ? he can get in and out on him. I?m not even sure how that fight is gonna go. I just think it?s gonna be one shot. If they fought again I don?t think it?s gonna go the distance, I really don?t.
Jenna: Do you think Pacquiao will go out the way he went out last time, going in there looking for a KO, or do you think he will be more cautious?
Bradley: Pacquiao is a little different. Honestly, from the first time I fought him he?s a little different. He does have that killer instinct ? he will try to finish you ? but at times in the ring it felt like he was being very cautious, especially when he fought me, and I?m not a big, big power puncher. I know Marquez has that dynamite in both hands, I?ve been in the ring with him too.
It will be interesting to see how he holds up and deals with Marquez? power this time around. Marquez I think has definitely done something to him, but Pacquiao has a lot of ability still left. He threw quick combinations and was able to move on me and land some great shots on me, so he?s still a deadly opponent for anybody.
