TalkingBoxing Articles
Can Shaw bring the Marquez brothers back to life?
SAT August 5, ROGER GORDILLO - After what some people might call managerial malpractice The Tandem of Juan Manuel Marquez and Rafael Marquez have retained the services of their then and still now trainer playing manager Nacho Beristain. On the advice of Beristain the older of the Marquez brothers Juan Manuel (44-3-1, 33 KO’s) would turn down a $750,000 rematch against pound for pounder and probably today’s most popular fighter Manny Pacquiao (42-3-2, 33 KO’s).
Marquez would then be navigated through the jungles of Indonesia for a meager 30,000 dollars and chance to regain a title that was stripped from the Mexican native.
“I don’t know Beristain; you need a Psychiatrist to deal with him”. I don’t know, “I just don’t know the guy is Looney tunes” stated the Marquez brother’s former promoter Bob Arum when asked about dealings with the brother’s camp.
So why did Marquez turn down a rematch with Pacquiao when his then promoter Arum and his upcoming fight promoter Gary Shaw both believe Marquez would have won the rematch? “I was offered only $100,000 more than the first match” States Marquez who after shockingly being manhandled, going down three times within the first three minutes of the fight against Pacquiao, would get off the canvas to make it through the round and proceed to put on a boxing clinic as Marquez tactfully punched and counterpunched his way to one of boxing’s most incredible role reversals.
Marquez unfortunately was handed a draw but with it came a brief moment of recognition after Marquez clearly outboxed and slowed momentum of the runaway train which many viewed as Pacquiao, suddenly people started to second guess the Philippine fighter as some observers now viewed the Filipino in a different light.
Marquez clearly felt after all the dramatics of their first encounter and the popularity of Pacquiao that he was getting the short end of the stick in a fight that was sure to garner public interest and millions in pay per view dollars. Pacquiao has since went on to split a pair of matches with Eric Morales and in the second of the two stopped Morales for the first time in the Tijuana superstars career and gone onto become as popular as ever.
After what seems like an unsuccessful courtship by Golden Boy Promotions Marquez has signed on for one fight with Gary Shaw Promotions while his brother Rafael has already signed a lucrative deal with Shaw. Marquez still undecided on a promoter seems to want to keep the door open to weigh out his options.
This Saturday Juan and Rafael make their return to the airwaves as they co-headline Showtime’s Championship boxing in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Juan Manuel will take on
Terdsak Jandaeng (24-1, 15 KO’s) for the WBO Featherweight Interim Title.
Terdsak who fights out of Thailand is a 5’6 southpaw who’s only loss was a step up fight against Joan Guzman in a WBO Featherweight Title Eliminator in which Guzman won a unanimous decision by 110-117and 108-119 twice.
With a win Marquez could setup a fight with Scottish Champion Scott Harrison who both he and Marquez have both fought Victor Pollo in their last fights. Harrison drew with Pollo in his hometown while Marquez won a near shutout against the Colombian fighter.
Comparing the two fighters and their respected matches against Pollo as a common opponent and Harrison’s recent problems with depression and alcohol, Marquez looks to be favored in gaining the WBO interim title as well as the WBO Featherweight Title should the fight come to fruition. If Marquez can remain victorious he gains a foothold on his career and perhaps finally attains the recognition and big money fights he deserves.
Like his Brother Juan Manuel, Rafael Marquez has mostly flown beneath the radar of most main stream fans while boxing diehards, insiders and media have long known of the power and skill of the long reigning IBF Bantamweight Champion.
Rafael a cool and calm technician likes to press the fight and exchange more than his older brother Juan with a record of (35-3, 31 KO’s) it’s no one wonder why the younger is confident in his power.
Rafael has also participated in more big name fights than Juan, defeating former pound for pound fighter Mark Johnson twice, and Former titlists Mauricio Pastrana and Tim Austin and much like brother Juan, Rafael has fought on without big money purses despite being somewhere on most peoples pound for pound list.
In this Saturdays main event Rafael will take on South African Silence Mabuza (19-1, 15 KO’s) in a rematch after their first encounter was stopped in the fourth round due to cuts Mabuza suffered by clean legal blows. Going into their first fight some members of the media Favored Mabuza to win due to his speed and power along with the fact that Marquez has been stopped three times earlier in his career.
As the fight began Marquez quickly pressed the fight hurting Mabuza badly as the South African crumpled to the canvas. Miraculously Silence regained his composure made it through the round and through the rest of the fight until the fourth round when the referee called a halt to the bout on the advice of the ringside physician. Rounds two through three were largely uneventful with Marquez controlling the fight and doing the most damage.
In rematch the one thing Mabuza may have on his side is the fact that Marquez has been inactive for about eight months while Mabuza is coming of a Unanimous decision victory over the tough Ricardo “Chapo” Vargas in a bout where Mabuza won a much clearer cut decision than Marquez did when he faced Vargas. All in all styles make fights and while Mabuza Favored better versus Vargas than Marquez, I see Marquez winning by late stoppage possibly on cuts.
Gary Shaw Productions has a good track record for setting up big fights and keeping their fighters out in the open and making them bigger Stars in the process. With both brothers under the same banner putting on shows and promoting the two together on a card makes the most sense from marketing prospective. The relationship looks to be a good mesh for the Marquez brothers and hopefully with his brother’s success Juan Manuel will come to the right decision and come aboard.
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