The Sweet Science 09.15.09: Marquez is Fighting Against All Odds

Posted by Igor Frank on 09.15.2009

Renowned boxing analyst, a host of a long reigning radio show “Neutral Corner”, Rich Marotta predicted this morning on the radio that Floyd Mayweather Jr. will stop Juan Manuel Marquez within nine rounds of their bout scheduled to take place at the Mecca of boxing, Las Vegas on September 19th, 2009.


Photo by Gene Blevins-Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Staged at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the twelve round welterweight battle will be televised live by HBO Pay Per View. To understand the significance of this prediction one has to know that Rich Marotta has been covering fights involving Juan Manuel Marquez from the very beginning of his career, from early days when Marquez thrilled knowledgeable boxing fans at the Great Western Forum with his ferocity and skills. Not so long ago Marotta called Juan Manuel one his most favorite fighters. He also scored both Pacquiao fights for Marquez and believes that no matter how many times they fight it would always be a very closely contested affair.

"Nothing against Marquez, his skills are fantastic," said Marotta. "Styles make fights. I am looking for an advantage for Juan Manuel and I just don't find one anywhere. Mayweather is a younger man, a stronger man, a bigger man and a faster man." Screen superstar Eddie Murphy, an avid boxing fan, had expressed the same sentiments while visiting Mayweather's Gym in Las Vegas. Many experts feel the same way. Las Vegas bookmakers have Mayweather as a prohibitive favorite at -450. One would be hard pressed to find somebody to pick Marquez in this fight wit a degree of certainty.

But the courageous Mexican champion is not worried about the odds; in his mind he has never lost a fight and he is not planning on loosing one to Mayweather. Despite being a star athlete in the stable of Golden Boy Promotions, Marquez is no Golden Boy; after a brief amateur career Juan Manuel had to learn his trade on the job and had to earn everything the hard way. While his compatriots Barrera and Morales fought each other and basked in glory and popularity, Marquez fought hard battles slowly moving up the ranks in virtual obscurity. For years only hard core boxing fans even knew the name of Juan Manuel Marquez. But that is all behind him now. Marquez has learned his craft well; he is widely considered the second best pound for pound fighter on the planet.

Last year this time at the same venue he is about to fight Mayweather, ‘Dynamita' Marquez gave his fans a present for the Mexican Independence Day Weekend when he brutally knocked out Ring Magazine lightweight champion Joel Casamayor. Earlier this year Marquez affirmed his lightweight superiority when after going through hell he knocked out young Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz. For the second time this year Juan Manuel claims he is willing to die in the ring if he has to. I do believe him to be sincere. Let's hope it will not be necessary. But he is fighting an uphill battle. He is fighting Mayweather giving up all the obvious advantages at welterweight, two divisions higher than he has ever fought before. Does anybody think Marquez have a chance in this fight? Yes. Oscar De La Hoya, who fought Mayweather on pretty even terms in 2007 and lost to Pretty Boy by a split decision, believes Marquez will upset the odds.

"I just have this feeling that Marquez is going to pull this one off," said De La Hoya, a president of Golden Boy Promotions. "I went down to Mexico and saw him train with my own eyes. I saw how much he bulked up; I saw how much strength he has gained; I saw how seriously he's taking this fight."

You might think that he is a promoter for Marquez and he is supposed to say just that for the benefit of fans and to boost the confidence of his star fighter. It is true, but what Oscar had to say makes perfect sense and besides boxing is the theater of the unexpected and no one really knows for certain what is going to happen in the ring on fight night.

"I'm convinced he will win this fight, " continued De La Hoya:" He's looking sharp, he's looking fast and he's looking strong.Marquez has an excellent jab and he is going to use triple, quadruple jabs. He's a smart fighter, and it's a matter of throwing those jabs and feigning those jabs. This is the fight of his life ... and he knows it."