Marquez a dangerous foe vs Pacquiao

There’s a reason why International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico is nicknamed "Dinamita."

It’s because he’s such an explosive puncher. He detonates at the sound of the bell. In a pro career that started in 1993, Marquez has posted 33 knockouts in compiling a record of 42-2.

If plans don’t miscarry, Marquez will be consensus world featherweight titlist Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent and looms as a dangerous foe. Marquez, 30, is a durable warrior who has never been stopped and counts Filipinos Reynante Jamili and Baby Lorona Jr. among his victims.

Pacquiao’s US agent Murad Muhammad is negotiating to promote the fight in March or April. Marquez’ manager Nacho Beristain is asking for a $400,000 purse. Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario said he’s open to offers for a Marquez duel but the starting point for negotiations is a purse of $1 Million, net of tax.

Marquez and younger brother Rafael, the IBF bantamweight champion, were trained as amateurs by their father Rafael Sr, a former pro. They were simonpure sensations in Mexico.

As a rising amateur star, Marquez was touted to be a future Olympic medallist until he met a freak accident. He fell from a tree in the backyard of the Marquez home and hurt his back. The injury sidelined Marquez for two years and wiped out his hopes of representing Mexico in the Olympics.

Recovered from the back injury, Marquez decided to turn pro. His father tapped the highly-regarded Beristain, a close family friend, as trainer. But alas, in his pro debut, tragedy struck. His opponent Javier Duran suffered a cut from an unintentional headbutt and couldn’t continue in the first round. Under Mexican rules, Marquez was declared the loser by disqualification. Under international rules, the bout would’ve been called a technical draw.

Although his pro career got off to a disastrous start, Marquez persevered. He rolled to 29 straight wins and gained a shot at the WBA featherweight crown then held by Freddie Norwood in Las Vegas four years ago. Neither Marquez nor Norwood was particularly impressive in their dull 12-round bout. Both fighters took mandatory eight-counts but otherwise, the fight was uneventful. Norwood won on a unanimous decision as the judges scored it 114-112 (Duane Ford), 115-111 (Stanley Christodoulou) and 117-112 (Arthur Ellensohn).

Marquez–who is notorious for butting opponents–inflicted a cut over Norwood’s left eye in the fourth round. Norwood later accused Marquez of deliberate butting. Marquez was dropped by a left hook in the second round but returned the favor by decking Norwood in the ninth.

More a puncher than a boxer, Marquez landed only 19 of 219 jabs and connected 89 of 445 power shots against Norwood. He lost because Norwood’s blows were cleaner and harder. Marquez also had difficulty solving Norwood’s southpaw style–a good omen for Pacquiao who’s also lefthanded.

Marquez stormed back from the stinging loss to pile up 13 wins in a row–the last, a seventh round technical decision over Derrick (Smoke) Gainer to unify the IBF and WBA featherweight titles last month. He’d won the vacant IBF crown via a seventh round stoppage of Manuel Medina in Las Vegas last year.

Marquez used to be promoted by Forum Boxing like Marco Antonio Barrera. Then he switched to Top Rank owned by Bob Arum.

"Marquez is a very technical fighter, a very smart fighter," said Jerry Bilderrain of Golden Boy Promotions. "The kid takes a hell of a shot and he can deliver." Fox Sports Net broadcaster Rich Marotta described Marquez as a crowd pleaser.

Trainer Emanuel Steward said Marquez is "very well-schooled" and isn’t the stereotype Mexican fighter who throws left hooks to the body and battles toe-to-toe. He said Marquez has "a good jab and a pretty good defense and is adaptable."

Boxing News editor Claude Abrams wrote about Marquez’ style: "He prefers to stick to the ring center and counter. He is a precision puncher with quick reflexes who possesses every shot in the book. He is well-rounded, very sharp and always looking to hit back."

Abrams pointed out a flaw in Marquez’ defense. He said when Marquez attacks, he leaves himself off-balance and is open to counters. Gainer, who lost to Marquez, noted, "He fights according to what you allow to happen–if you allow him to do what he wants to do, he’s going to be very effective (but) if you show him who the man is, he will fall into line."

Abrams said Marquez has never been stopped "but there is always a first time." That first time could happen if and when he faces Pacquiao.