Can an aging veteran who will be fighting as high as 144 pounds for the first time in his professional boxing career take down a 32-year-old who is admittedly bigger, stronger and faster?
That, in essence, is what Sept. 19 boils down to for Juan Manuel Marquez. That's when he walks into the ring for his megabout opposite unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"Right now, I'm 36 years old, but I feel young," said Marquez, a married father of three, during Tuesday's exclusive interview with FanHouse from his training quarters in Mexico City. "I feel like I'm 28."
A traditional counter-puncher who has not competed at higher than 135 pounds, Marquez (50-4, 37 knockouts) knows that he will need to take risks in order to beat Mayweather (39-0, 25 knockouts), whose defensive skills often involve yielding ground and fighting in retreat early while shielding himself with a "shoulder-roll" and picking his spots.
That strategy worked well for Mayweather against Ricky Hatton on the way to a 10th-round stoppage in December of 2007 -- the last time he was in the ring.
"Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter, pound-for-pound," said Marquez, whose birthday was on Aug. 23. "It's going to be very important to bring the pressure against his speed."
Marquez has spent most of his career at featherweight (125 pounds) and superfeatherweight (130), but is coming off of consecutive knockouts of Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz at 135 pounds.
Against Mayweather, who has fought at a weight as high as 150 pounds, Marquez may need to make the unbeaten man feel whatever "pop" there is in either hand quickly, in addition to maintaining an extraordinary activity level that outworks the larger man.
"When they start the fight, the pressure will be very important, and it will be very important to connect on as many punches as I can," said Marquez. "It's going to be very important to work the body, and to use my intelligence."
Marquez must try to expose any existing ring rust that may be the result of Mayweather's long layoff, also potentially winning the minds of judges, should they be convinced that Mayweather's retreat has more to do with caution than strategy.
Asked if he thought he could hurt Mayweather, Marquez said, "I'll try."
"My confidence is in my preparation, my conditioning and my intelligence," said Marquez, adding that he weighs 143 pounds. "I will go into the ring with great confidence in my game plan."
One avenue for Marquez could be if he is able to borrow a page from Roberto Duran, who, on June 20 of 1980 -- four days after his 29th birthday -- carried the fight to 24-year-old Sugar Ray Leonard, for 15 rounds.
When the dust had settled, Duran had wrested from Leonard the former Olympic gold medalist's WBC welterweight championship belt.
Like Marquez, Duran, of Panama City, Panama, was a former 135-pound star. Duran was able to pounce early and often, his power earning Leonard's attention within the first four rounds before following up his momentum with a sustained, relentless, high-energy punch output.
Leonard remained aware of Duran's potency and bothered by his aggression throughout their bout. But Duran had taken more time to acclimate himself in preparation for Leonard.
After beating rival Esteban De Jesus in 1978 -- his last time fighting as a lightweight -- Duran spent the next nearly two and a half years competing eight times at or around the welterweight limit, including twice going over 147 pounds.
Duran was 8-0 with four knockouts during that time, having twice avenged his lone defeat against De Jesus. Against Leonard, Duran's confidence soared.
Marquez's heart is unquestionable. The old warrior rose from the canvas after being floored three times to earn a draw against Manny Pacquiao, whom he still insists he has beaten twice.
Marquez has stated that he has, yet again, prepared "to die in the ring" against Mayweather, and if so, then the little man from Mexico City must, yet again, fight as if his life depends on it.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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