Juan Manuel Marquez vs Michael Katsidis and the implications for Manny Pacquiao

Juan Manuel Marquez will be looking to send a serious statement of intent to Manny Pacquiao by blowing away Australian brawler Michael Katsidis when they meet in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Marquez has already faced Pacquiao twice and both fights have produced more than their fair share of controversy and action. The first time they met, in 2004, Pacquiao knocked the Mexican down three times in the opening round but Marquez bounced back to claim a very credible draw, with many feeling he had done enough to win.

The rematch was four years in the making and, once again, 12 rounds simply could not separate these two fighters. One judge scored the fight 115-112 for Pacquiao, another had Marquez winning by the same margin and the decisive vote was cast 114-113 in the Filipino’s favour . With a solitary point deciding the outcome this was far from a clear cut Pacquiao victory and Marquez has been calling for a rematch ever since.

Those calls have gone unheeded by Pacquiao who has been bouncing around the weight classes in search of marquee fights but has been left with a paucity of credible opponents. He has already worked his way through the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito but none of them provided as tough a test as Marquez did.

This is a point which is definitely not lost on the Mexican veteran who is desperate to be given one more chance to claim a win over Pacquiao, something which he feels he has twice been denied by inept judging, “Manny Pacquiao, that’s my desire. I want it so bad. I want that third fight with him before my career ends. I know how to fight Pacquiao, I know his style and I’m always one step ahead of him. Pacquiao is scared of me,” he said.

Since narrowly defeating Marquez as a super featherweight in 2008 Pacquiao has gone from being respected to revered. He has moved up through four different weight classes in the space of two years, winning world titles in each. The Filipino fighter’s major concern is not with Marquez himself, who he describes as an ‘easy’ opponent, but the marketability of the fight. For some reason he is under the impression that a third fight with Marquez would not make enough money, although a promoter could easily sidestep this issue by offering Pacquiao a purse which was not affected by pay per view sales.

For Marquez an emphatic win over Katsidis would go a long way towards convincing people that he really is the candidate best qualified to interrupt Pacquiao’s inexorable ascent. His opponent is unlikely to relish the role of stepping stone though and will be looking to prove a point in the biggest fight of his life.

Katsidis’s aggressive fighting style and willingness to take a punch to give a punch has established him as a firm favourite amongst boxing fans. The Australian may not be the most technical fighter in the world but what he might lack in skill he more than makes up for in spirit.

In a recent interview with The Ring Magazine legendary trainer Emanuel Steward gave his thoughts on the contest, “To me, the fight is much closer than anyone else thinks. Marquez is technically maybe a little bit better but (aged 37) the wear and tear is an issue. Katsidis is maybe not as talented but with the unbelievable fire and drive that he’s got I think it’s going to be a very, very tough fight. That burning drive and determination is a major factor that you can’t measure in terms of skill,” he said.

Winning is a prerequisite for Marquez if he is to remain in contention for a third fight with Pacquiao but the manner of victory is also important. A lackluster performance could put paid to his chances of a shot at the pound for pound champ whereas a spectacular stoppage would surely strengthen his case.

Floyd Mayweather is currently busy dealing with his ongoing legal issues and negotiations for a fight between him and Pacquiao appear to have reached a permanent impasse. In his absence Shane Mosley’s name has been mentioned but he is 39 and has only won two out of his last five fights. Marquez is by far the most credible contender to face Pacquiao at present and both men are of a similar stature so for once weight would not be too much of an issue.

It is rare for a fighter in the lower weight classes to excel late in life and at 37 year old time is not on Marquez’s side. The fight against Katsidis will be his 57th as a professional and if he can emerge victorious Marquez will surely be rewarded with the career defining contest he so desperately craves.

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