Who is Marquez fooling?

Someone please teach WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez the proper way to spell the contraction of “you are”. After the Mexican disposed of Colombia’s Likar Ramos at 1:47 of the first round in Cancun last Saturday, he walked around wearing a yellow T-shirt with the words “PACQUIAO, YOUR NEXT” at the back. If Marquez texted the message, it would’ve read “PACQUIAO, UR NEXT.” But you and I know the right message is: “PACQUIAO, YOU’RE NEXT.”

I don’t know if spelling is the proper subject to teach Marquez or is it just the right way to use a contraction? Whatever, Marquez has some learning to do – not just in English but also in trying to intimidate Manny Pacquiao whom he faces in a third encounter in Las Vegas on Nov. 12.

Marquez is obviously out to play mind games – or trying to – with Pacquiao through media. Last November, he wore a yellow T-shirt (again) with the words “MARQUEZ BEAT PACQUIAO TWICE!!” in front after halting Michael Katsidis. Who’s he trying to fool? Certainly, not the public. And most definitely, not Pacquiao. Marquez may be psyching himself up for Pacquiao. It’s possible that all this mockery is aimed at reassuring himself that he’s got a chance to beat the Filipino icon. In the end, Marquez could be fooling himself.

Marquez looked awesome in mowing down Ramos, a southpaw like Pacquiao, with a left-right combination. A left jab snapped Ramos’ head back and opened up his defense. That was the only opening Marquez needed to throw his vaunted right straight down the middle. In a split second, Marquez connected with a jarring blow that sent Ramos tumbling down like a log chopped down by a lumberjack. To be fair, trainer Freddie Roach once intimated that Marquez’ most potent weapon against Pacquiao is the right down the middle – the perfect punch for an orthodox fighter to land on a southpaw.

Could Ramos have gotten up to beat the count? Who knows and who cares? Ramos came in as grist for the mill, a willing victim to be run over and left for garbage. Marquez said he would’ve wanted a workout to raise a sweat. Did he mean he has no control of his power and is that supposed to be frightening? Let’s get real. Marquez wanted to deliver a message to Pacquiao and Ramos was his foil. Was the knockout credible?

Your guess is as good as mine.

For the record, Ramos came in as the WBA’s No. 4 lightweight contender with a 24-3 record, including 18 KOs, six in the first round. In February last year, he was stopped by Pacquiao knockout victim Jorge Solis in the seventh round in Mexico in his first fight outside of his native Colombia. His fight against Marquez was his second away from home and it ended the same tragic way. Ramos has feasted on tomato cans and patsies in Colombia. Marquez was way above him in terms of class, ability and talent. It showed in the outcome of their brief meeting.

Ramos’ dismal performance is by no means an indication of the caliber of Colombian fighters. The record shows that Colombia has produced at least 40 world champions, including the legendary Antonio (Kid Pambele) Cervantes, Rodrigo Valdes, Fidel Bassa, Mauricio Pastrana, Miguel (Happy) Lora, Carlos Tamara, Baby Rojas, Ricardo and Prudencio Cardona, Elvis Alvarez, Yonnhy Perez and Kermin Guardia.

By the way, Ramos weighed in at 140 pounds for the bout. When he was halted by Solis, Ramos scaled 129 3/4 and that was only a year ago. Marquez, on the other hand, tipped the scales at 138 pounds. The most Marquez has ever scaled for a fight was 142 in losing a lopsided decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2009. Marquez looked bloated and blown-up in the fight and was sluggish because of the excess poundage. The scorecards of 120-107, 119-108 and 118-109 weren’t close.

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When Marquez met Pacquiao for the first time in 2004, they both weighed in at 125 pounds or inside the featherweight limit. At that weight, Marquez was floored thrice by Pacquiao in the first round. He would’ve lost by split decision if only judge Burt Clements didn’t err in scoring the opening stanza 10-7 instead of 10-6. When they met in a rematch in 2008, Marquez scaled 130 pounds and Pacquiao 129. Marquez went down again, once in the third round, in losing a split decision. To this day, the Mexican insists he was robbed of a victory twice by the judges. What Marquez can’t erase from history is the fact that in their two fights, Pacquiao has scored four knockdowns and he hasn’t scored a single one.

In November, Marquez and Pacquiao have agreed to face off at a catchweight of 144 pounds – three under the welterweight limit.

At stake will be Pacquiao’s WBO 147-pound crown. From all indications, Marquez will check in just about 140 pounds while Pacquiao closer to 144. Since their last fight, Marquez has won five of six outings, four by knockout, and was decked once by Mayweather and once by Katsidis. His record is 53-5-1, with 39 KOs, dating back to 1993. Pacquiao has won seven in a row, four inside the distance, since defeating Marquez and his record is 53-3-2, with 38 KOs, going back to 1995. By the time they clash, Marquez will be 38 with Pacquiao turning 33 in December.

Despite the blitz win over Ramos, Marquez isn’t given much of a chance to upset Pacquiao. If Pacquiao could bowl over Marquez four times at featherweight and superfeatherweight, he shouldn’t find it difficult to floor him again, this time as a welterweight against a natural lightweight. Marquez will simply be overpowered by Pacquiao. He’ll try to counter like he did in their first two bouts but can’t be effective against a bigger buzzsaw with a dizzying inside-outside attack.

Marquez has never been knocked out but is far from invulnerable. He’s been shooting his mouth off, taunting Pacquiao, for years. The Mexican even flew to Manila once to badger Pacquiao into agreeing to a third meeting. Pacquiao would like nothing better than to shut him up for good. Marquez might end up like Ricky Hatton.