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Marquez has sights set on Pacquiao rematch
Marquez has sights set on Pacquiao rematch
http://www.secondsout.com/USA/news.cfm?ccs=229&cs=20509
By Paul Upham: After sustaining an upset defeat to Chris John in Indonesia, Juan Manuel Marquez's reputation as one of the best featherweights in the world took a serious hit. The 33 year-old Mexican takes another step towards restoring his credibility and hopefully inching closer to a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, when he faces Jimrex Jaca next weekend at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, headlining a Mexican triple-header with Daniel Ponce De Leon and Juan Lazcano on HBO Pay-Per-View.
A hot commodity after his thrilling draw with Pacquiao in May 2004, Marquez travelled to Indonesia to battle the WBA champion on March 4 this year, only to lose a controversial points decision.
"Honestly, I had a lot of anger," Marquez said of the loss. "I felt I won the fight. I felt that I won at least ten rounds out of the twelve. But that's fine. I know sometime in the near future, there can always be a rematch."
The Judges scored the fight for John 116-110, 117-111 and 116-112. Referee Guillermo Pérez Pineda deducting two points from Marquez 45-3-1 (34) for lows blows in rounds 10 and 11.
"I felt very good before the fight," said Marquez. "The travelling had nothing to do with it. I felt very, very good. For some reason, the judges and the referee saw the fight differently."
After being promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank for most of his career, Marquez has now signed with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.
"One of the main reasons is because of the company's President," said Marquez. "Oscar is a fighter himself. He knows what the fighter feels like. He knows what it is like to be a fighter and to get up and having to work out. I feel very strongly that Oscar will side with the fighters always, because he is a fighter himself. Golden Boy has all the dates and Golden Boy has all the fighters in my weight class, so that is what convinced me."
Marquez' draw with Pacquiao was one of the fights of the year in 2004 and came after he was knocked down to the canvas three times in the opening round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena by 'Pacman'. If they both keep winning, De La Hoya who now promotes both boxers has promised Marquez a rematch.
"Yes, and I am very excited about it," said Marquez. "Maybe sometime next year, I am hoping the fight can happen. I want to convince the boxing public that I was really victorious the time when we fought back in May 2004. I would love to have a rematch with him and I think the boxing public would love it as well."
Both men have obstacles to clear before the rematch can be made. WBO Interim featherweight title holder Marquez, if he is able to defeat Jaca on Saturday night, will then have to face WBO world champion Scott Harrison, while Pacquiao has his third fight with Erik Morales on November 18.
"I feel that Manny Pacquiao will be victorious over Morales," said Marquez. "It is Manny's time now. It is his time. He is in his prime. He is very strong and very fast. I feel that it his night and he will be the victor."
Marquez says that in picking Pacquiao to win, it has nothing to do with any animosity towards former promoter Top Rank, who promotes Morales.
"Not at all," he said. "I am talking boxing wise. I just feel that Manny Pacquiao is in his prime right now and he is a better fighter at this time."
If Morales were able to win, Marquez says he would be happy to adjust his sights to his fellow Mexican.
"I would love to fight Erik Morales. I am here to fight anybody," he said.
Similarly, if Pacquiao were to win and then rematch Marco Antonio Barrera before Marquez could get to the 'Pacman', he would be willing to fight the winner.
"If they fight each other first," he explained, "I will be ready, willing and able to fight the winner. If ends up being Barrera, then I will fight Barrera."
But before hard man Marquez can think of Harrison or fights with any of the big three in Pacquiao, Barrera and Morales, he has to prove that the loss to John was just an aberration on his career resume, by beating Jaca 26-2-1 (11) impressively.
"I feel very confident for the fight," he said. "Obviously it is a tough fight. Jimrex Jaca is a very strong fighter. He is fast and just like all the Filipinos, he has got a lot of heart. But I feel very confident and I will be the victor that night."
The 23 year-old southpaw from Cebu City in the Philippines will be a couple of inches taller than Marquez and will be looking to create another upset.
"I don't know how I will win, but I will win," promised Marquez. "I am prepared for anything and everything. It is a very important fight, my first fight with Golden Boy Promotions and Romanza Productions. I know I am going to win."
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
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Originally Posted by CutMeMicK
Hi!!! Just try to see JMM kiss the floor when Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao wave his left hand, for the final touch!!! This is the time for the Filipino boxer, to show who is the Filipino is!!!! This is not about anything but this is the time for victorious!!!!! 
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