By John F. McKenna (McJack): Saturday nights fight between WBO, WBA and Ring lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO’s) and World Boxing Association (WBA) interim champion Likar Ramos (24-4, 18 KO’s) turned into a farce. The fight, if you can call it that, was supposed to be a tune up for Marquez who will be fighting WBO Welterweight title holder Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Marquez knocked out his overmatched opponent in forty five seconds of the 1st round. Ramos for his part acted as though he wanted no part of the Mexican legend. If Marquez wanted a workout, he certainly picked the wrong opponent.

Marquez himself appeared surprised at the ease with which he KO’d Ramos. It was thought prior to the fight that Juan wanted to be impressive against Likar, thereby making a statement for his upcoming fight with Pacquiao.

Ramos is the same fighter who was badly trounced by Jorge Solis, who had been knocked out by Pacquiao. There was no way that Marquez was going to lose to Likar, who was clearly not in the same league as a fighter.

Juan Manuel Marquez is a world class top five pound for pound fighter going up against a bad Colombian club fighter who obviously did not belong in the same ring with him.

The fight was impressive to Juan’s zealous Mexican fans that idolize him and everything he does. To seasoned boxing fans and writers though it was noted that Ramos made no effort to win and no effort to get up when he was floored within seconds of the opening bell.

The consensus by boxing observers who were present for the event was that Likar Ramos was there for a payday and there was no sense in him getting up and possible getting hurt in the process.

Marquez will take a short rest and then go into serious training for his big showdown with Pacquiao. The world tour for the Marquez – Pacquiao Trilogy will begin on September 3 in the Phillipines and end in Mexico. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is pulling out all the stops to promote the fight. It is still not clear whether Showtime or HBO will be showing the event.