By Jake Donovan
So ask yourself this question:
How excited were you to hear the news of Juan Manuel Marquez, shortly after flattening Juan Diaz in their 2009 Fight of the Year, moving up two divisions to take on a comebacking Floyd Mayweather Jr. just over a year ago?
For those who had any interest in the aforementioned money grab, what were your thoughts after watching a fat, displaced Marquez land on the wrong end of a boxing clinic after 12 painfully one-sided rounds against a fighter who – as great as he may be – hadn’t fought in 20 months?
So why are we once again pushing him in the direction of other half of the only two men in the sport with a viable claim to the pound-for-pound throne? And one who – unlike Mr. Mayweather – is a full-time fighter.
It’s well understood that Marquez and Pacquiao have history together, going tooth and nail in their thrilling matchups in 2004 and 2008. But being seriously glossed over is the fact that both fights took place at Marquez’ (and Pacquiao’s) natural weight class at the time.
What Marquez has proven throughout his career is this: he’s one of the very best in the world at what he does, but lightweight is his ceiling in terms of being able to do what he does so well.
He proved it again on Saturday evening, even rising from a third round knockdown to rally back and eventually stop a gutsy and much-improved Michael Katsidis in the ninth round of their Fight of the Year contender.
The bout reestablished Marquez’ claim as the best lightweight in the world, a status he’s enjoyed since dethroning veteran Joel Casamayor in their September 2008 encounter – six months after the modern day legend fell just short against Pacquiao in their thrilling rematch.
Since capturing the lineal lightweight championship, Marquez has made three successful defenses – two against Juan Diaz and last weekend’s masterpiece against Katsidis.
The trend to be found among his lightweight reign – all have come in-house in a promotional sense. All of his lightweight fights have come against Golden Boy-promoted fighters.
Just as Bob Arum has run out of welterweights to feed Pacquiao, it appears that the lightweight well has run dry for Golden Boy.
They’re basically down to Robert Guerrero, who in pitching a near-shutout of Vicente Escobedo in early November looked good for the first time in quite some time. But he didn’t look that good to where anyone will be upset if it’s not the very next fight in Marquez’ long and storied career.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any more lightweights for Marquez to face.
And since Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer informed the Associated Press that “my phone is on” in regards to being available and open for anything Arum has to offer in the way of a Pacquiao fight, perhaps the two can find a way to discuss other options for Marquez’ next fight.
For starters, there is Brandon Rios, who – love him or hate him – is developing a reputation as a must-see fighter once the bell rings. He proved that on the way up on Telefutura, TV Azteca and Fox Sports Espanol.
He showed it again in his breakthrough performance – a DQ win over previously unbeaten Anthony Peterson earlier this year to officially announce his arrival as a major player in the lightweight division.
Opposition aside, the thrill was still there in his five-round beatdown of Omri Lowther on November 13 in a bout that served as the televised opener to Pacquiao’s bludgeoning of Antonio Margarito on a pay-per-view that sold 1.15 million units.
Sure, he’s low on the list of favorite people outside of the ring in the eyes of many, and for good reason. But in a way, that makes him the perfect villain to Marquez’ everyman hero.
There’s also the winner of this weekend’s lightweight clash between Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon in Anaheim, California.
Soto has forever been on the outside looking in while the modern day Fab Four of Pacquiao, Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales collected paydays and beatings against one another over. It seems crazy that he managed to campaign at the same weight classes, yet couldn’t secure a single fight along the way.
Just like that, a storyline if such a fight were able to be made.
Also worthy of consideration are a pair of Miguels who also represent alphabet unification (for those who still get excited over that stuff).
Both Miguel Vazquez and Miguel Acosta are fresh off dominant wins. Acosta scored a one-round knockout in a stay-busy fight; Vazquez turned back the challenge of Ricardo Dominguez on a Fox Sports Espanol telecast that aired opposite Marquez’ stoppage win over Katsidis on HBO.
Of course, the immediate argument for a fight with any of the aforementioned is that none represent the type of payday that Marquez deserves while in the twilight of a career destined for Canastota no later than his first year of Hall of Fame ballot eligibility.
If it’s a quick buck that Marquez seeks, then look no further than the one guy you never had a chance to face, but always wanted to.
It’s been well-documented by now that for all of the great fights produced by the Fab Four, Marquez-Morales is the only matchup to have not taken place.
Such a long overdue showdown has been floated as a strong possibility for next year. Marquez did his part in beating Katsidis. Morales needs to do his part by beating Jorge Barrios on December 18.
Chances are, one sanctioning body in particular will do its part to put their 140 lb. belt at stake, ensuring that the winner becomes the first ever Mexican-born fighter to win titles in four separate weight classes.
If it’s a gold watch and a major headline that Marquez seeks, then a fight with Morales certainly makes the most sense – or at least sense.
It certainly makes a hell of a lot more sense than fans and media members clamoring for a full-fledged lightweight to once again fatten up two divisions beyond his comfort zone for the sake of a payday – especially since he’s already unsuccessfully traveled that road before.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .