Interesting read I found...
Houston Boxing Examiner: Early mega-fight preview: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez
In 2007, former number one pound-for-pound fighter Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (39-0) emerged victorious in two tough contests against Oscar de la Hoya (in May of that year) and Ricky Hatton (in December). In 2008, current number one pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2) easily dismantled de la Hoya (this past December) and is looking to do the same to Ricky Hatton on May 2nd. Two common opponents. Like "training sessions" with flight instructors "Viper" and "Jester" on their way to the
real test - the fight of the decade - against each other. Undoubtedly, "Pretty Boy" vs. "Pacman" is the biggest possible fight in boxing (see
Marketing boxing’s climax: Pacquiao vs. Mayweather I) which may easily generate $20 million for each fighter.
It is no secret that WBA, WBO, IBO, and Ring lightweight champ - and current number two pound-for-pound fighter - Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1) has been on Pacquiao's tail - flying around his "jetwash" (rapidly moving gases expelled from a jet engine considered extremely turbulent but of short duration). As Manny looks to defeat Mayweather's last opponent Ricky Hatton, Mayweather may get the opportunity to get rid of Marquez - and "blast" Dinamita away from Pacquiao's tail.
Because if Marquez loses against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Pretty Boy vs. Pacman will become that much more compelling of a fight over a contemplated Pacquiao vs. Marquez III. That is the essential risk that Marquez is taking. A Floyd victory over Marquez clears the way for an obstacle-free collision between former and current # 1.
Unretirement and Seeking a "Tune-Up" Bout
When I attended the February 28 post-fight media conference of Juan Manuel Marquez - Juan Diaz in Houston, Texas, Oscar de la Hoya - assuming his role as president of Golden Boy Promotions, and agent of Marquez - when asked by a reporter, said that he knew of "certain information" that lead him to believe that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would soon return to the boxing ring. Around the first week of March, reports began to surface that Juan Manuel Marquez would indeed square off with Mayweather, Jr. -
according to Marquez's trainer Nacho Beristain in Esto.com.mx. A mega-fight that would tentatively be schedule for September 12, 2009.
Talks in Impasse
The talks between Floyd's camp and Golden Boy Promotions / Marquez's camp have apparently and recently bogged down, if not, downright appear over. (See
Esto.com article link - and hopefully you're in the mood to brush up on your Spanish.) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. insists on fighting at the 147 lbs. welterweight limit, while the 135 lbs. champ Marquez is currently holding his ground to hold the bout at the 140 lbs. junior welterweight limit.
147 lb. vs. 140 lb.- At 147 lbs., I would have to consider Mayweather (at least) a very strong 4-1 favorite over Marquez, who has never fought above the 135 lb. lightweight limit. Marquez may be a higher volume puncher than the lower quantity, but more effective, puncher Mayweather, however, the shots that do land on a bloated Marquez would probably have a much more significant effect.
- At 140 lbs., however, Mayweather vs. Marquez would indeed be a bona fide mega-fight. At this weight, we would have to consider Marquez as having a "solid chance" at defeating Mayweather, who would have to drain his body below an otherwise more normal weight of 147 - 154 lbs. Secondly, if the fight takes place in September, Floyd will have been away from boxing for close to two years. Floyd's ring rust would translate to an advantage for the presumably sharper Marquez.
What If?
The interesting question is, "What if Marquez does beat Mayweather at 140 lbs.? Does he then become the current # 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport?" In that case, it would be reasonable to foresee many, if not most, boxing observers to consider him as number one, relegating Manny Pacquiao to (perhaps temporary) number two status, despite holding a decision win over "Dinamita." Such a scenario would become a rare anomaly in boxing. Sports fans may hold a parallelism with college football's Texas Longhorns being left out of the bowl champsionship series (BCS), while the Oklahoma Sooners (a team the Longhorns beat during the regular season) went on to the championship game to face the Florida Gators.
Secondly, if Marquez beats Mayweather (say, at 140 lbs.), Pacquiao vs. Marquez III may become the genuine
fight of the decade after all - with some boxing followers currently not even realizing it.
Additionally, if Marquez defeats Mayweather (again, let's say at 140 lbs.), might that victory possibly eliminate a Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight?
As mentioned previously, talks between Marquez's and Mayweather's camps appear "over."
It has taken "Dinamita" several years to emerge from the shadows of Mexican greats Marco Antonio Barrera (65-7) and Erik Morales (48-6) - fighters that Manny Pacquiao has defeated. Marquez won a tough decision win over Barrera in 2007, and it appears "El Terrible" Morales may be the opponent Marquez faces in September, as Morales - who is only 32 years old - has repeatedly stated his intentions of returning to the ring.
As Pacquiao attempts to dispose of Floyd's previous foes (de la Hoya, and now Ricky Hatton), such a bout would have Marquez attempting to dispose of Manny's old foes.
Small world.
A Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Erik Morales fight seems a sellable bout. To be sure, Morales has been out of the ring since a decision loss to former Pacquiao opponent David Diaz in 2007.
In a previous article (
Boxing's elite trifecta: Marquez vs. Pacquio vs. Mayweather), I pegged Morales as Juan Manuel Marquez's fifth most attractive matchup.
Bookmarks