Marquez glad he didn’t retire after loss to Pinoy champ

LAS VEGAS – Juan Manuel Marquez is glad he didn’t hang up his gloves after he lost to Manny Pacquiao in November last year.

“I’m very happy I didn’t retire,” said Marquez following his smashing win over Pacquiao.

Marquez said last Wednesday here he felt “very upset” with his loss to Pacquiao last year that all he did next was blame the judges.

But Marquez didn’t give up on landing a fourth fight with Pacquiao.

And he made sure he didn’t waste the opportunity, knocking out Pacquiao with a perfect right straight in the 2:59 mark of the sixth round.

It was the same right straight that made it so difficult for Pacquiao the first three times he faced Marquez in 2004, 2008 and 2011.

“I’m happy I got it (victory),” said Marquez, a white sponsor’s hat partially covering the marks of his latest battle with the Filipino boxer.

Marquez sent Pacquiao down with a sweeping right to the side of the head in the third round but also went down, but not as hard, after taking a left from his opponent in the fifth.

It should be greatest win of his career, of his life although he didn’t admit it.

Not until it sinks in. 

“One of my best victories absolutely,” said Marquez after the fight witnessed by a live audience of 16,348, including Mitt Romney, who ran for president here in the US last month. 

Romney visited Pacquiao in his dressing room before the fight.

Marquez said he will enjoy the victory with his family and the people of Mexico, who for eight long years had hoped he would one day beat Pacquiao.

He was asked of his plans or if he would consider facing Pacquiao for a fifth time.

“I’m going to rest with my family first. Right now I’m thinking of the celebration more than who I will fight next. I just want to rest,” he said.