By Mac Sam– Floyd Mayweather recently made light of the fact all 39 of his professional career opponents have relied on a game plan constructed of pressure and body work. The thought being that Mayweather is unable to fight going backwards when an opponent is hammering his mid section, with most under that belief based on the 24 tough rounds Mayweather battled with the rugged Jose Luis Castillo.
Juan Manuel Marquez is anything but a clone of Jose Luis Castillo – he’s a much more fluid puncher, a thinking man’s battle tested Mexican warrior who is sure to provide “Money” with plenty of obstacles throughout the night.
Ironically, Nacho Beristain was shown on 24/7 in his living room with a Cuban Cigar watching the second bout of Mayweather-Castillo. This is ironic in the fact that Marquez has never been the type of pressure fighter so many others before him have vowed to be in order to bring Mayweather his first professional defeat..
If Beristain believes Castillo is the magic wand that will help Marquez pull the biggest rabbit of his career out of his Sombrero, perhaps he really is better off drinking his own urine.
Marquez will need to tax Mayweather’s body, especially due to the fact it is rumored his ribs were injured during a sparring session, all but forcing the original July 18th fight date to be pushed back. But just as Marquez has done throughout his entire career, he is going to need to hit the body with a calculated precision that many other opponents have attempted but ultimately bailed on after a few rounds of looking foolish.
Marquez could have an advantage and possibly get to the body early if the 21-month layoff has caused Mayweather’s feints to be a bit slower and even slightly predictable. If Mayweather is forced to think before he pulls the trigger – something he’s never done – Marquez will be able to land those custom razor sharp counters all night long, en route to pulling off an upset that would put him in the class with Julio Cesar Chavez.
And no, we aren’t talking about Jr.
Going in to this fight, more so than any fight of past memory, everything is strictly speculation. The question marks on the layoff, Marquez’s jump in weight, the distractions of Mayweather’s alleged money problems tied in with his Uncle Roger’s on-going domestic abuse case make this once perceived mismatch a quite compelling bout after all.
Mayweather has catapulted into a compelling figure in boxing by playing the bad guy role effortlessly for his bouts with Oscar De la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, and he will continue to do it going in to the fight this weekend with Marquez because it’s what he is good at. So good, in fact, that half the people – if not more – who order the bout at the suggested pay per-view price of over $50 bones, will be doing so in hopes of seeing Mayweather knocked off his throne.
All the while knowing the chances are probably slim.
Marquez has proved all he needs is a chance. In 2004, after being pummeled to the canvas on three consecutive knockdowns in the opening frame of his bout with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, he stood up and fought back to the tune of a draw. Marquez was able to adjust on the go, something that, even at 36 years of age, makes Marquez different from any of the other 39 fighters who have fallen victim to the Pretty Boy.
Boxing is a humbling sport. It’s very rare that a superstar can walk out the door only to return without missing a beat. That is not to say Mayweather isn’t gifted enough to do so, but it is unlikely. A fighter can stay in the gym for any period of time, however, staying in shape and being in fighting shape are two different things that many un-retired boxers have come to learn the hard way.
So far boxing hasn’t been to hard for Floyd Mayweather.
This Saturday Juan Manuel Marquez is hoping to change that given the chance.
A chance, mind you, he’s been banking on since the beginning of his often overlooked career.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: When did it become trendy for retired boxers to tell other boxers how to beat a fighter they themselves came up short against?
How many more comebacks will Lance Whitaker have before he finally gives it up?
I’ve heard rumors that Hasim Rahman will be traveling down the comeback trail. I hope they’re just rumors.
Congrats to James Toney for knocking out another stiff. I guess we will now be subjected to his rants and raves about the Klitschko, despite not having any real intention of backing it up.