By John F. McKenna (McJack): WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO’s) is unquestionably the toughest opponent that WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) has ever faced. “Dinamita” will face Pacquiao for the 3rd time on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Both of the previous fights between Marquez and Pacquiao ended in controversy.

In 2004 Marquez fought back from being knocked down three times in the 1st round to earn a draw. In 2008 Pacquiao won by a narrow decision. Marquez feels that he won both encounters. Many boxing fans agree with him. Juan has campaigned for a rematch ever since the 2008 fight and was finally rewarded for his persistence, hence the Trilogy match in Las Vegas.

Marquez has always been a proud Mexican warrior, in a country which idolizes its boxing champions. The word quit is not in his vocabulary and there is no doubt that when he enters the ring on November 12, “Dinamita” will do so with the intention of winning.

Still every fighter has inner demons that he must cope with, even as great a fighter as Marquez. Inner doubts sometimes arise in every fighter. Even the great Jack Dempsey conceded after his total annihilation of ring giant Jess Willard that he had his doubts.
Dempsey at 6/1 ½” and weighing in at 187 pounds was going up against “The Great White Hope” who had KO’d Jack Johsnon in the 26th round four years prior. In addition Willard killed an opponent in his 21st fight. Willard had a tremendous overhand right and a good right uppercut to go along with his long left hand with which he used to keep opponents at bay.

After hearing reports from the Willard camp that the champion feared killing “the boy” as he referred to Dempsey, Jack started having his doubts. Those doubts were reinforced when Dempsey glanced across the ring and saw the confident champion flexing his huge muscles. History recorded how Dempsey handled his doubts.

Recently word has leaked out of the camp of Juan Manuel Marquez that self doubt may be creeping in. He acknowledges that the “Pacman” of today is far superior to the one he faced in 2004 and 2008. Juan, who is now 38 years old, also admits that he wishes the 3rd fight with Pacquiao could have happened sooner. Lastly Juan had hoped that the November 12 showdown with Pacquiao could have taken place at a “catchweight” of 140 pounds rather than the agreed to 144 pounds.

Are the doubts that Marquez is expressing normal for such a great fighter? Or is Juan preparing himself for a defeat by Pacquaio that he feels is inevitable?