By Miguel Rivera
Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs), a four division world boxing champion, announced his retirement from the sport earlier this month.
He was out of the ring since May of 2014, when he won a twelve round decision over Mike Alvarado at The Forum in Los Angeles, California.
"I have boxing in my blood. My dad was a fighter and I started fighting since I was 6 years old. It's a sport that starts from the bottom, for people with economic needs, although my parents always put food on the table. This sport, essentially, was because of my father's inheritance," Marquez said.
Marquez admits his career is defined by his four fight series with eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
They fought to a controversial draw in 2004, then Pacquiao won a close split decision in their 2008 rematch, and then Marquez lost a very controversial decision in their trilogy meeting in 2011 in Las Vegas. But Marquez closed the book on their fight series in 2012, when he knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round of their fourth bout, which also took place in Las Vegas.
"When I was robbed in the third fight with Manny Pacquiao [is what sticks out most in my mind when I think about my career]. I was focused, I trained very hard, with a great desire to win and the judges did their job badly, and everyone noticed. Too bad it's a sad memory. I do not wish it on any fighter," Marquez said.
"Despite what I told you, my whole career is a happy memory, it was worth the suffering and training. In addition to that knockout of Manny Pacquiao, [it was very important] because he was the best pound for pound fighter in the world, who had devastated all of his opponents and to end our fight series that way was phenomenal."
2023-10-20 01:09:30
