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Since May 8, 2004, Juan Manuel Marquez (45-3-1, 34 KO) has been battling his way back to the top. After his twelve round draw with Manny Pacquiao on the earlier referenced date, fans have been waiting for Marquez to follow up his amazing come from behind performance with another big fight, but no big fight has materialized.
When Marquez met Pacquiao, he was sent to canvas three times in the first round. The end appeared to be near for Marquez. Remarkably, he was able to box his way back into the fight and won enough rounds to pull out a draw.
A rematch with Pacquiao was the logical next step. After the sides were unable to come to a financial agreement, the fight rematch talks were called off and both fighters went in different directions. Marquez would go on to close out 2004 with a decision victory over Orlando Salido.
In 2005, Marquez’s career would begin to take a turn for the worse.
In a move that made headlines in the boxing world, the IBF stripped Marquez of their featherweight title because no promoter was willing to spend the minimum $50,000 on a purse bid for his overdue mandatory title defense. He was supposed to fight the leading contender, Thai boxer Phafrakorb Rakkiatgym. The IBF held two purse bids for the fight, on July 26 and August 5 – and no promoter made the minimum bid, including his own promoter at the time - Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Top Rank issued a statement, stating that they were unwilling to bid on the bout because they had one fight remaining with Marquez under their contract, and they objected to the opponent because it was not a marketable fight.
Because the WBA considered Marquez as the “super champion,” due to him holding two of the major four titles, they too stripped him of their title once he was stripped of the IBF – leaving him with nothing around his waist. Soon after, the WBA appointed undefeated Indonesian fighter Chris John as their recognized champion. Marquez was devastated, losing both of his titles in a week without stepping one foot inside a ring. [details]
When Marquez met Pacquiao, he was sent to canvas three times in the first round. The end appeared to be near for Marquez. Remarkably, he was able to box his way back into the fight and won enough rounds to pull out a draw.
A rematch with Pacquiao was the logical next step. After the sides were unable to come to a financial agreement, the fight rematch talks were called off and both fighters went in different directions. Marquez would go on to close out 2004 with a decision victory over Orlando Salido.
In 2005, Marquez’s career would begin to take a turn for the worse.
In a move that made headlines in the boxing world, the IBF stripped Marquez of their featherweight title because no promoter was willing to spend the minimum $50,000 on a purse bid for his overdue mandatory title defense. He was supposed to fight the leading contender, Thai boxer Phafrakorb Rakkiatgym. The IBF held two purse bids for the fight, on July 26 and August 5 – and no promoter made the minimum bid, including his own promoter at the time - Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Top Rank issued a statement, stating that they were unwilling to bid on the bout because they had one fight remaining with Marquez under their contract, and they objected to the opponent because it was not a marketable fight.
Because the WBA considered Marquez as the “super champion,” due to him holding two of the major four titles, they too stripped him of their title once he was stripped of the IBF – leaving him with nothing around his waist. Soon after, the WBA appointed undefeated Indonesian fighter Chris John as their recognized champion. Marquez was devastated, losing both of his titles in a week without stepping one foot inside a ring. [details]
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