By Rene Umanzor
Juan Manuel Marquez, 40-years-old and winner of titles in four weight divisions, appears to be leaning towards retirement after suffering a twelve round split decision loss to undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
After knocking out Manny Pacquiao in their fourth meeting last December, Marquez planned to retire and his family was pressuring him to walk away, but his wife gave him permission to pursue a fifth world crown from Bradley.
"It is difficult [to continue] and even more so with these kind of situations in which some appreciate one thing, others something else. I have to think and believe that the decision to retire was made ever since I beat Manny Pacquiao, but I wanted to try to go that fifth title. My family [wanted me to retire] and I told them to give me a final chance, but now they want me to be completely devoted to them and I think they need me. I got the chance [to win the fifth world title], it wasn't the result I expected but I'm happy with my performance. I fought an opponent who didn't want to fight and I faced an opponent who knew he would win if it went to a decision," Marqiez said.
Rene Umanzor covers boxing in Mexico for The Record.
