http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/chris_mannix/09/16/twelve.rounds/index.html You are Juan Manuel Marquez. You just turned in arguably the finest performance of your professional career when you systematically destroyed lightweight champion Joel Casamayor last Saturday night. You have catapulted yourself to the top of every pound-for-pound rankings and have the boxing world buzzing about a potential third fight with your nemesis, Manny Pacquiao, once Pacquiao finishes his business with Oscar De La Hoya. What do you do? You start talking about a fight with Ricky Hatton. Huh? Surprised? I was. When I placed a call to Marquez's co-promoter and right hand man, Jaime Quintana, I didn't expect to hear any revelations. Marquez has been stalking Pacquiao for more than a year, so despite the recent rhetoric to the contrary, I expected Quintana -- and everyone else in Marquez's camp -- to tell me that Pacquiao was still their first, last and only choice for an opponent. Not so. According to Quintana, Marquez has shifted his attention to Hatton, the reigning IBF and IBO light welterweight champion. Quintana and Golden Boy have had internal discussions about matching Hatton (who also fights under Golden Boy banner) against Marquez at 140 pounds. "Flat out, Pacquiao is afraid to fight Juan Manuel," said Quintana. "He doesn't want the fight. So Juan Manuel is moving forward." Quintana's comments are reinforced by statements made by Golden Boy execs. "There's no way (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum and Pacquiao are going to fight him again," Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said. "I don't think Pacquiao wants anything to do with Juan Manuel Marquez any more. Juan Manuel Marquez will fight anyone. He's never turned down anyone. Have you ever heard him turn down any opponent?" For the record, Pacquiao left the door open for a third fight with Marquez during an interview with reporters in the Philippines this weekend. "I'm willing to fight him anytime," said Pacquiao. "But since I will be the promoter, he must first accept all the conditions I will ask, including a smaller purse [for him]. "If he agrees to the conditions, I know he is fighting for honor and I will fight him. If not, he's only after getting a big purse." Statements made by boxing promoters have to be taken with an entire box of salt. If Pacquiao decides tomorrow that he wants another shot at Marquez, it is a fight that can be made in a day. But if it's true that Marquez has moved on, Hatton is an interesting choice. The most appealing part of a showdown with Hatton is that it would easily be Marquez's most lucrative fight to date, which is a major factor for a fighter who in the past has made some questionable business decisions. Hatton is one of the most popular British fighters in history and a mega fight with Marquez could easily draw 50,000-60,000 fans in Manchester, England. Marquez could earn upwards of $5 million for the fight. If he can find a way to beat Hatton, who still has to get by Paulie Malignaggi in November, Marquez would set him up for even more lucrative paydays. Quintana didn't rule out Marquez moving up to the 147-pound welterweight division, an idea that seemed preposterous a year ago but one that now has legs after Marquez didn't seem to lose any of his power at 135 pounds when he handed Casamayor the first KO loss of his career. The downside? There is a very good chance Marquez could find himself staggeringly overmatched. The prevailing image of Hatton, for many people, is the beating he took at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr., a year ago. But Hatton had to move up to welterweight for that fight and his straight-ahead style doesn't work as well when the man in front of him is physically superior. But at 140 pounds, Hatton is a dangerous fighter. He has tremendous punching power (31 of his 44 wins have come by knockout) and would test Marquez's chin, which has been considered suspect in previous fights. But if Marquez is willing to risk a potentially devastating loss for the promise of an unprecedented payday, Hatton is the right fight.
Awesome. I hope it does get made instead of a 3rd fight with Pacman. I might just pick Marquez, depending on how Hatton looks against guido.
I definitely rather see Hatton fight Marquez than Malignaggi. I hope JMM gets a high profile fight like this. He deserves it.
I would, I'm surprised you wouldn't Steve. Don't get me wrong, Pacman is a FAR superior, and far more exciting fighter than Hatton. But a 3rd fight? Were you THAT excited for Morales - Barrera 3? I guess rematches don't appeal to me quite as much as fighters fighting that haven't fought before. Add to that it's going to be a real challenge, Marquez going up to 140, even if hatton is borderline shot.
Although I think there may be better fights for JMM at this point than Hatton, I would rather see him fight Hatton than Pacquaio again. IMO JMM won both fights against Manny yet did not get either decision, so if I were him why would I want another fight with more of the same? Apparently unless Marquez wins 11 rounds against Manny he will not get a decision anyway. Why drag your career down again. It's not like Marquez will re-engineer his whole style at this point in his career. A 3rd fight with Manny is likely to be more of the same. On the other hand, Marquez most likely beats up Hatton, and the money is certainly reasonable especially if held in Manchester. If Hatton makes it past Paulie, this would be a decent fight that Marquez probably wins.
i'd pick hatton via an ugly beatdown. let's just say that even if pac loses to oscar and marquez lose to hatton, there's still significance left for them to fight for the third time. but then again, both of them can be damaged goods if they catch serious beatdowns against much bigger foes.
I don't have much interest in this. First Manny makes his debut at lightweight and is now facing Oscar. Next Marquez moves up, wins the title from Casa and now wants Hatton. Normally i wouldn't have a big problem with this but 135 is a very solid division right now. It's not like it's a wasteland and there are no other opponents. I'd rather See Marquez (or Pac for that matter) face Diaz or Campbell.
agREED... REED Ususally DOESN'T Subscribe to the "Deserves" Theory, but if Anybody DESERVES a Big Money Fight, it's JM Marquez...He's PAID his Dues Several Times Over... & This is a WINNABLE Fight for him...Marquez's SKILLSET, COUNTERPUNCHING & Underrated POWER would TROUBLE Hatton... Hatton's BEST Bet is to MAUL Marquez, OVERWHELM him & Take him Out EARLY...Cause the Looooooooonger the Fight Lasts, the BETTER Marquez's Chances R... Also, like Joony was Saying, the Pac-Marquez 3rd Fight would STILL B There, even if they're Both Coming Off of LOSSES... REED:hammert:
I see your point. A third Pacquiao fight probably wouldn't tell us anything we don't already know. It will be close and controversial. We know how they match-up, I can see that from a "been there done that" perspective. I just can't get up for Hatton anymore. That Lazcano fight really told me all I need to know... I simply don't care to watch Hatton fight anymore. You're right though, it's a reasonable fight. Hatton still has claim as champ at 140, and that will be stronger if he beats Paulie. It would be interesting.
now that Hatton has resigned himself to fighting light-weights, I can't think of a fight that makes more sense except maybe Hatton/Diaz or Hatton/Guzman. but thinking about it, I'd almost rather see JMM take care of Campbell first, or Diaz even and then take on Hatton. But if he's trying to break some kind of Mexican record by winning titles in 4 divisions, then it's probably in his best interest to do so sooner than later. Let's just hope that prissy Maggigigigigani doesn't ruin the whole thing by stinking out a decision win over Hatton.
agREED... in a lot of ways, 135 today is playing out like 140 a few years ago; loaded with talent, but the division at a standstill because of so few big fights happening at the top. Marquez-Campbell will most likely never happen, but it's shitty that the fight barely registers on anyone's radar due to the way the sport is structured today - and worse, that people have simply come to accept it. Personally, I've had enough of all of these catchweight bouts, and guys leaving behind unfinished business in jumping from one division to the next. It's one thing to clean out a division, then move on. But that's not happening these days, at least not often enough.
Agreed, it's bullshit. Would Nate turn that fight down if he was going to be stripped for not facing his mandatory?
That's a good question... you might want to ask it on the Nate... er, Terry... er, Max forums :: He said (at least through a press release) that he'd like the fight, and to have Funeka accept a step-aside fee in order to make it happen. But then you have to ask how much money would be in such a fight. Marquez-Casamayor wasn't exactly in high demand, I'm not sure there's any more interest in Marquez-Campbell. It would cost a lot just to make the fight happen, never mind what you'd have to pay in step-aside fees and all that
A couple of years ago it would have been a no brainer Val, but Hatton has degraded badly. Marquez has a real chance against today's Hatton. He knows it too, otherwise he wouldn't be the one pursuing the fight.
No lose fight for Marquez. He wouldnt be expected to win, but if he did, it'd be a great win to end his career with.
for Hatton, it could just turn into the Castillo fight again.....no one really holds that win in high regards, which i think is a little unfair cos at the time a lot of people liked Castillo in that fight......Marquez isn't as worn, but with the moving up in weight, Hatton won't get much credit unless if Marquez was to have success afterwards ....that said, 140 is kind of dry, the most lucrative AND safer (as opposed to going to 147) option for hatton would be to look at the lightweights
I agree but like a poster above stated a few years ago such a matchup would laughed at. Today it might be competitive. It's like Oscar-Pac. Big names that don't belong fighting against each other but money is to be made.
you mean a complete shutout? Like Hatton would barely touch him? Like Marquez would be dancing around the ring like a queer? Like marquez would gain weight by using steroids? ummmm nope
