But there is one word you absolutely, unequivocally cannot call him: Scared.
Marquez has taken on challenges that most prizefighters would not even consider. He has fought and won in opponents' hometowns. He has gotten up off the canvas when he probably should have stayed down. He wants the pressure which comes with being a high-profile Mexican fighter. He yearns for it. So do you think Marquez and his serious huevos are scared or intimidated at the prospect of fighting Floyd Mayweather, Jr., on September 19?
Don't count on it.
On May 8, 2004, Marquez fought the feared power-punching Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. Pacquiao came into the fight with a 12-fight win streak, all by knockout. Shortly after referee Joe Cortez signaled for the opening bell, things went to hell in a hurry for Marquez. Just 88 seconds into the fight, Pacquiao decked Marquez with a straight left hand. Sound like a terrible way to get the fight started? Just hold on, it gets worse. 25 seconds later, Pacquiao landed another left hand right on the chin to floor Marquez for the second time. But again, Marquez picked himself up. Then, with 44 seconds remaining in the opening stanza, Pacquiao trapped Marquez against the ropes and landed a barrage of punches, sending Marquez to the canvas for the third time in the round. Marquez stayed on the mat longer after the third knockdown than he did the previous two, probably seriously considering the prospect of just staying down. But he decided against it. He climbed to his feet. Cortez took a long look into Marquez's eyes before he let him continue. But seeing that Marquez was more frustrated than truly hurt, he let the fight go on. Marquez survived the first round by staying away, and he regrouped in a manner no one could have ever imagined. He changed his gameplan. He started to move to his left, away from Pacquiao's vicious left hand. He jabbed more. He threw more punches. He started to control the fight. By the 5th round, it was clear to everyone that Marquez was a changed fighter. The fight, against all logic after the opening round, went the full 12 rounds and was decided by the judging panel. The bout was declared a draw. Marquez made the stand of his life. He battled back from one of the worst opening rounds in history to score a draw with Manny freakin' Pacquiao.
In March of 2006, Marquez made the long trek to Indonesia to challenge undefeated featherweight titlist Chris John. John, a native of Indonesia, would not travel to North America to face Marquez. So Marquez went to him. It was another hard-fought bout, though not to the extent of the Pacquiao fight. Many ringside observers felt that Marquez had done enough to win a decision. But the hometown crowd and judges swung the controversial decision in John's favor. It would not be the last time Marquez traveled to fight on an opponent's home soil.
Marquez finally got his shot at a long-awaited rematch with Pacquiao in March of 2008. Once again in Las Vegas, Marquez fought even better in the rematch than he did in the great comeback four years earlier. But after another 12-round battle, questionable judging gave Pacquiao a split decision vistory, leaving Marquez with the same bitter taste in his mouth.
Marquez said he felt he lost the decision to Pacquiao the second time around because of Pacquiao's tremendous popularity and box-office appeal. His drawing power is so great due to his entertaining, power-punching style. It was at that moment that a light bulb seemed to click on with Marquez. He felt as though he needed to change his approach to be more aggressive, more fan-friendly. All this at the ripe young age of 35. So in Marquez's next bout, he challenged former lightweight champion Joel Casamayor. The rugged Cuban had solid skills and had never been knocked down in his professional career. That all changed September 13, 2008. Marquez sent Casamayor to the canvas in the 11th round with a tremendous left hook. Casamayor staggered to his feet only to see Marquez rush in to close the show with a nonstop cannonade of punches. Referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight with five seconds remaining in the 11th round. Casamayor has not fought since.
Five months later, Marquez once again took a trip into enemy territory. He traveled to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, home of "The Baby Bull" Juan Diaz. Diaz brought his hard-charging style and 34-1 record into the fight. In the 9th round, Marquez caught Diaz coming in with a right hook followed by a left uppercut to send Diaz to the canvas. Not dissimilar to the Casamayor fight, Marquez picked up the tempo and let his hands fly when Diaz got back to his feet. 18 seconds later, Marquez unloaded a right uppercut from the depths of hell on Diaz. When Diaz hit the mat, the referee saw no need to count. The fight was over. That was in February of this year.
In an interview in The Ring Magazine a few months ago, Marquez said his "dream" would be to fight in Estadio Azteca, a soccer stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, which can hold well over 100,000 fans. His fans. And in this "dream" fight, the interviewer asked, who would be Marquez's opponent? The answer was simple and swift: Manny Pacquiao. Once again, you can call him many things, but "scared" is not one of them.
And now, in keeping with his tendency to make things hard on himself, Marquez has accepted the challenge to fight "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather, Jr., in Mayweather's hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. This fight will be Mayweather's comeback fight, since he hasn't fought since his 10th-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in December of 2007. Mayweather will be wanting to show the world he is still the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Marquez is also trying to claim that title for himself. And the fight date of September 19 has added significance for Marquez, too. That happens to be the eve of Mexican Independence Day, no less. Not that he needed any extra pressure. That's just how he operates.
Mayweather vs. Marquez. September 19. MGM Grand. Las Vegas, Nevada. Who will win? I have no idea. But what I do know is that whoever does win will automatically vault himself to the top of the prestigious pound-for-pound list.
Number One. Número Uno.
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