More controversy surrounds Marquez and his physique

By Boxing News - 06/28/2013 - Comments

marquez5By Mark Havey: Timothy Bradley and Jaun Manuel Marquez are set to fight in a clash that has most fans excited. Without the fact that they will be sharing a ring with each other, they share another thing in common. They both beat Manny Pacquiao in a fashion that left fans talking about the legitimacy of the sports.

Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley didn’t the hardcore or casual fan shaking with eagerness. Bradley was the unbeaten ruler of the light welterweight division, however had hadn’t captured the imagination of the public. A few fans, I think it was 6%, thought that Bradley fairly won. I don’t care what anyone says it was clear to everyone that Manny Pacquiao won that fight.

Jaun Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao divided opinions. Some felt that this fight had been milked until it had turned to cheese. The thought of a fourth fight left them bemused. Others, myself included, were overjoyed. Of the previous three fights, two had been great whilst one was decent. It good boxing is on offer then I am interested. Marquez entered the ring with a new found six pack with bulging biceps. On the basis that this was impossible at his advanced age, fans screamed foul play. His new found power added to the opinion that he was using performance enhancing drugs by some fans.

Initially the testing for Bradley vs Marquez was to be done by USADA and VADA. This was included in the contract and signed for. Bradley is undoubtedly suspicious of the recent growth and power demonstrated by Marquez. but he was happy with this arrangement. But then the drugs testing agency was changed to NSAC who are reported to having out of date testing procedures. Could this have thrown the fight out of the window?

Bradley said on twitter, “I understand that everyone is talking about drug testing of this fight, I have a contract that states that both VADA and USADA will be doing the drug testing for both camps and that’s what it will be. I did not agree to anything else and that was a deciding factor to making this fight happen. I have yet to make any changes to my fight contract regardless of what is said.”

I am a Manny Pacquiao fan. I watch his fights, have read one of his books and check the news on him daily. But I do not think he was cheated out of that fight. He was beaten with timing and momentum. When I first saw Marquez at the weigh in I was suspicious. I remember thinking ‘I hope they have been tested for this fight’.

It’s clear in the clips of his training that Marquez was working on growth and power moves. And they were tested with the results coming back negative. Marquez has had a long career and never given any reason to suggest he is a cheat. He passed his test. So it’s a shame that his name has been smeared and we all know how this kind of accusation follows a boxer.



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