By Lyle Fitzsimmons - He’s a reigning WBA and WBO world champion at lightweight.
Previously, he’s held WBC hardware at 130 pounds and both WBA and IBF ***elry at 126 pounds.
But Juan Manuel Marquez became something else entirely on Saturday.
A tune-up fighter.
With the midday announcement of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s return from a brief retirement and the evening’s concussive crowning of Manny Pacquiao as the IBO’s junior welterweight champion, the 35-year-old Mexican – a pro since 1993 – instantly became an afterthought.
Oh sure, he’ll face Mayweather in the “Pretty Boy’s” comeback bout somewhere between 140 and 147 pounds, but he’ll enter that fight as the last inconvenient obstacle to the event the sport is suddenly salivating over – a pound-for-pound summit between Mayweather and Pacquiao. [details]
Previously, he’s held WBC hardware at 130 pounds and both WBA and IBF ***elry at 126 pounds.
But Juan Manuel Marquez became something else entirely on Saturday.
A tune-up fighter.
With the midday announcement of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s return from a brief retirement and the evening’s concussive crowning of Manny Pacquiao as the IBO’s junior welterweight champion, the 35-year-old Mexican – a pro since 1993 – instantly became an afterthought.
Oh sure, he’ll face Mayweather in the “Pretty Boy’s” comeback bout somewhere between 140 and 147 pounds, but he’ll enter that fight as the last inconvenient obstacle to the event the sport is suddenly salivating over – a pound-for-pound summit between Mayweather and Pacquiao. [details]
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