By Warren Cloud: This Mexican independence day weekend, Millions of Juan Manuel Marquez fans were hoping for an upset that was never meant to be. Marquez’ past fights against boxing greats like Marco Antonio Barrera, Joel Casamayore, and Manny Pacquiao had proven Marquez a warrior composed purely of guts and heart.
The HBO mini series Mayweather-Marquez 24/7, allowed us a glimpse into the world of Juan Manuel Marquez in training. His unorthodox training practices ranged from throwing boulders in the middle of the desert, to locking himself in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and certainly most memorable, consuming his own urine.
Mexican boxing fanatics probably only made up half the people cheering for him this past Saturday, the other half consisting of fans who simply couldn’t stomache Mayweather’s pedantic personality befitting of the DSM IV criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Many hoped and prayed for a rusty Mayweather whose only defense would be running around the ring, dodging Marquez’ valiant attack to no avail. The elusive pretty boy would finally have that smirk wiped off of his face.
But to the shock and dismay of Marquez fans and Mayweather haters alike, Mayweather emerged, 21 months out of retirement, like a phoenix rising from it’s ashes. Mayweather kept his promise of standing toe to toe with Marquez and systematically dismantled him in the process. September 19, 2009 brought Mayweather a step closer to being a true legend rather than just being one in his own mind.
Mayweather would have convinced the world that he truly believed himself to be fearless and invincible, had it not been for the post fight interview when Max Kellerman asked him about the proposition of getting in the ring with Sugar Shane Mosley. Mayweather stumbled over his words, looking as if he had seen a ghost. That ghost came in the form of Mosley in the flesh, who demanded what he had been begging for eight years now, a chance at Mayweather. Will Mayweather prove us wrong again, ridding himself of the label of a cherry picker? That is yet to be seen.
Please reach me by e-mail at cloudwarren@yahoo.com
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