Could Marquez upset the odds against Mayweather?
August 5th, 2009
By Liam Santiago: In recent times, boxing has seen many surprises and upsets in big fights across the globe. We witnesses Amir Khan get knocked out in fifty four seconds by an un-heard of boxer. We saw Manny Pacquiao score two knock downs before knocking Ricky Hatton out cold. And in not so recent times, boxing fans were stunned to see old master Bernard Hopkins school unbeaten knock-out artist, Kelly Pavlik and claim a unanimous points victory.
The jump up in weight is expected to have an affect. Yes, the move out of the lightweight division is likely to be a positive advantage for Mayweather, the natural welterweight, especially as Marquez is at the age of 35. This is the big question that will determine the outcome of the mega fight. Can Marquez handle the leap up in weight? If he can he stands a huge chance of being crowned victorious.
The Mexican legend has drawn with Pacquiao and came very close to beating him in their rematch. He is a tough warrior, and I do not use that word lightly. Love him or hate him, Mayweather is class. He has also faced some tough opponents such as Gatti, De La Hoya and Hatton. He is not what you would call untested, but if Marquez is on his game, he might get a shock.
Mayweather has the best defense in boxing today, he has the speed and the power, as Ricky Hatton found out in Las Vegas, 2007. He also has a tremendous heart. He is rumoured to call his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, at three AM demanding training sessions. Although it sounds a bit like a Rocky Balboa movie it does outline the determination and will to win of the skilful welterweight.
The fight has been agreed at a catch weight at 144 pounds. Although the normal welterweight maximum limit is 147, Marquez has never fought over 135. That is a big jump. Marquez’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, however, does not feel that will prevent the Mexican from being crowned victorious. He said. ‘Marquez beat Casamayor and knocked him out. Then he fought Juan Diaz and knocked him out too. People are going to be suprised at how good Marquez really is. He can beat Mayweather’.
Marquez has pursued a mega bout with Mayweather for years and insists he has the secret to beat Mayweather. Mayweather, however, claims that Marquez is in for a shock and ‘should be careful what he wishes for’. If Marquez can draw Mayweather into a war and really wear him down and work away at the body, he might just cause the biggest upset in boxing since Amir Khan’s knockout loss to Briedis Prescott.
Also, the fact that Marquez is a top quality counter puncher might take away Mayweather’s advantage he has known in all his previous bouts. ‘Pretty Boy’ has usually had the advantage as a counter puncher, which has
saved him in so many fights. He is now about to face a counter puncher of similar ability counter punching as himself which, although some say it might make a dull fight, it will be a big advantage to Marquez.
If Mayweather does pull off the win, it will of course be criticised by every boxing journalist, in every corner of the world. They will claim Marquez was unnatural at 144 pounds and was at the end of his career. They will claim he is now ‘shot’ and the win was meaningless. I don’t think so. Marquez is at his peak. Whether he can follow up with this great run of form at the catch weight is the only factor that might put him at a disadvantage.
If Mayweather can win, he will look to the other fighters on the horizon. I don’t see him fighting Pacquiao as the pair are unlikely to ever agree on money, both wanting the lion’s share. There is plenty more talent out there for ‘Money’. Paul Williams is getting better and better. Shane Mosley would give his right arm to share a ring with him, as would Miguel Cotto.
Boxing fans will demand him to fight this fighter or that fighter and will never be satisfied that he has done enough. He is not untested, but he can be tested more. The old boys in the gym used to regularly tell me, ‘if you’ve never tasted defeat, you shouldn’t even be fighting for a world title’. Muhammed Ali once said, ‘Only a fighter who has tasted defeat knows what it takes to be victorious when the fight is even’. Marquez certainly understands that. And maybe Marquez can pull off yet another huge upset that will bring him one step closer to a dream rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
Tags: 24 Responses to “Could Marquez upset the odds against Mayweather?”
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what the hell! pretty boy’s not gonna be pretty after this one i strongly suggest he ough to have a pretty good excuse after juan manuel marquez dismantles his “pretty” face. then there would be nothing pretty to about in this thread. accept it guys. it’s not gonna be pretty… i’m quite pretty sure
All the posts are missing one important point.
WHEN Floyd pummels, beats and knocks out Marquez in less than 3 rounds (not “if”) he will have broken any shot there is for a Marquez-Pacquiao three-peat.
I hate Floyd, can’t stand him, but he will definitely win and Pacquiao will have even more reason to ‘avoid’ Marquez (although he has nothing left to prove in my opinion)
There will be a big upset on Sept. 19 after Marquez demolishes the Pretty Boy.
I am predicting a win by Marquez in the Sept. 19 fight.
Marquez has shown that he’s got what it takes to beat Paquiao twice. Hatton and dela Hoya couldn’t handle Paquiao’s speed and power and were clobbered in the earlier rounds, whereas with Mayweather they lasted longer, with Dela Hoya lasting the whole 12 rounds. Comparing the victories of both boxers over Hatton and the Golden Boy, Paquiao is the better fighter than Mayweather. Since Marquez beat Paquiao twice, replicating this with Mayweather is not a distant reality. I’m putting my money for JMM definitely. ;p
Oli, good question. Styles make fights. Marquez is not a good match up with Floyd. First, he has been under 130 all his life and only recently was at 135 and now he has to go gain muscle to get to welter.
His first fight at welter is against a natuarlly bigger and younger man. A faster man who also is a counterpuncher. Two same fighters with one who has the ads I already mentioned.
If Marquez has to chase him how can he catch him. Floyd has a great chin and carrying extra weight outside one’s natural is bad, at his age it may be huge. The odds are stacked.
Pacman is faster than Cotto and hits almost as hard due to speed and great timing. Cotto has the size edge and strength edge and a suspect chin. Pacman’s body like Floyd’s needs to be tested.
I see Marquez as a better match with Cotto as he could be an effective counter against Cotto’s pressure; and Pacman with Floyd because he will apply pressure, create awkward shots, hit with speed and power and will have a great tactician.
Now throw all that out the window because like the fight between Leonard and Hearns, the chaser became the boxer and the boxer the chaser. We can speculate but these fights can and may have upsets
Oli@ Marquez never tested above 135 don’t compare him to the p4p king. When Pacquiao fought Barrera we all know what happened there. Also Marquez fought Barrera he won by unanimous decision but as many people believe together myself Marquez was lose to that fight to the faded Barrera. Same analogy if Marquez fought Dela hoya and Hatton I’m not saying he wouldn’t win to one of them but there’s a big possibility that he wouldn’t dominate them like what Pacquiao did. I don’t see Marquez winning to this one simply because he isn’t offensive type of boxer and his style is pretty fit to Mayweather. The only way to defeat Mayweather is to frustrate and confuse him with aggressive intention. Somebody who’s offensive, sharpshooter,fast,sleek, good footwork and has power. PACMAN definitely has all the ingredients to destroy him.
marquez vs. mayweather on sept. 19? it’s gonna be a circus. i’ll just read a free newspaper the next day to know who cries harder and who runs faster.
Answer me this…why are people giving marquez no hope of winning, but they give pacquiao huge chance of beating mayweather…when we ALL know that marquez beat pacquiao TWICE.
Basically if u say marquez has no chance then u have to say pacquiao has no chance either
Great article. i see mayweather winning this with a late stoppage after constant flurries of connecting punches in the late rounds. cant wait for this fight.
I’m surprised the catchweight is not being scrutinized in this fight. Why aren’t they fighting at 147, instead of 144?
I’ll give Marquez a real chance to beat Mayweather. As he said, he can counterattack by hammering powerful body shots and follow it up with angling vertical hooks to penetrate the Mayweather’s trademark rope leaning defenses.
Marquez is a smart Boxer and knows how to adjust the game in his favor. Pacquiao had trouble finishing him off after he revised his strategy during their previous encounters.
I am sure that Mayweather will taste the bitterness of defeat and first possible knockout from bigger and powerful version of Marquez.
TanauanKid official result was marquez lost to pacman so whatever you say is nothing but an opinion which noboby wants to listen to.
Hey Liam, Ray.S is right! how come you never complained of the catch weight? tsk..tsk..tsk..
JMM vs Mayweather is a boring fight.
Styles make fights and these 2 boxers will not make an “exciting” fight.
I’ll just wait for the HBO replay the week after and save my PPV bucks to the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.
Sorry folks.. this is a yawner!!
Great articule Liam Santiago with all the respect that U have I think this is a falce statement:”Mayweather has the best defense in boxing today” we all know that the best defence in all of boxing today and I think in years to come is in Ivan Calderon we are talking about a guy that just have 3 knockouts win in his carrer and he have 33 – 0.
Not a chance for Marquez to win. Mayweather is going to school Marquez. Mayweather don’t want to fight Manny Pacquia right now. That’s the money fight on the future for spring 2010. However, Pac is fighting Cotto why? That’s the real fight right there, even that Cotto doesn’t have a chance maybe a lucky punch. I’m from PR, and even say Cotto don’t have a chance. So, bottom line Marquez don’t stand a chance, Cotto don’t stand a chance, and if Pac fight Mayweather the odds will be Mayweather don’t stand a chance either.
And for those that say Marquez was robbed in the PAc fight, you guys might be right. However if the fight again right now, Pacquia will easily win the fight. Pacquia has grow as a boxer and his defense is as good as PBF. Pac has the heart and the power to go toe to toe with any of the top contenders in those divisions.
…but then again, who is Pac? Nothing but an over-hyped cherry-picking prima donna poster boy. PBF is another level.
Nothing is impossible. Very slim chance, but it is possible JMM can pull an upset. Remember this is the fighter who beats and schooled Pac twice. This is the fighter who survived Pac’s power and schooled that cherry-picking fraud twice. This is the fighter who was robbed of victory against Pac but returned by beating Casamayor and Diaz (the tougher Diaz named Juan, not the snail punching bag Diaz named David).
Well, i can´t wait for the match.
Marquez has an agresive style and floyd is very defensive and really hard to hit.
I think maywheather will win by small margin.
Peace
I cant wait till this fight. I am a big Marquez fan but i have him loosing by decision. I think Floyd is to much for him at 144. But at 135 i think it would be Marquez all the way. Floyd could come down to the that weight but nevr would.
MARQUEZ WILL DO IT FOR ALL US MEXICANS!
how come there’s no bruhahaha about this catchweight as compared to pacquiao-cotto catchweight???
mayweather fighting an easy and smaller opponent…
pick someone your own size, like mosley/cotto/williams and i’ll buy ppv.
manuela is a whiner, i was robbed of my win against pacquiao, i was robbed 2x, i was robbed, i should’ve won those fights, i was rob…blah, blah, blah. like a schoolgirl crying cause vsomeone stole her bf.
I can picture the upset. Unlikely, but I can picture it. In my opinion and the opinion of many Marquez beat Pacquiao. He is a great fighter and is not afraid to go toe-to-toe against anybody.
I feel he has a stronger legacy than Floyd Mayweather jr.
This match up is very intriguing.
I’ve the great respect and admiration for JMM, he is to me one of the greatest boxer in the last decade, HOWEVER I don’t really see him winning this fight against PBF