This Saturday night will bring Boxing fans one of
the most anticipated fights of the young year. A
rematch four years in the making since the two participants fought to
a draw. This match-up has all the things a big fight usually
possesses. It has two great fighters, two of the best
in the world. But, it also has a rivalry fervor to
it; a rivalry that has really kicked into gear over
the past few years, and that's the rivalry between
Mexican and Filipino fans. This contention really got started
with the emergence of Manny
Pacquiao, and it should hit a fever pitch once again this
Saturday night. One thing's for sure, on Saturday
night legacies will be on the line for both Manny Pacquiao
and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Since Pacquiao's emergence on the scene
over five years ago, when he knocked off Marco Antonio
Barrera for the first time, he has been
rolling and riding a high that has sent him surging up
pound for pound lists. That being the case, you may be asking, why is his
legacy on the line this Saturday night? Well, there are a
few reasons.
#1 - Pacquiao has become the Mexican killer, as
he has
dethroned some of the best Mexican fighters of
this era. He's beaten the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik
Morales, Hector Velasquez, and Jorge Solis. But, the one
guy that he hasn't beaten is Juan Manuel Marquez, whom he
fought once, and came away with an unsatisfying draw.
#2 - Marquez is that one guy Manny didn't
beat, the one marquee fighter that he didn't knock off during
this amazing reign. Marquez is the one question mark for Pacman,
whose legacy cannot be totally fulfilled without a victory over
Marquez. While it is true that Pacquiao would still be considered
one of the best of this era, he would have that one foe, Marquez,
hanging over his head.
#3 - Another reason why this is a legacy-making fight
for Pacquiao is the opportunity that's being presented
to him. With Mayweather gone, (for now at least), Pacman can
bear the P4P torch with a win in this fight. He will truly be "the man"
and will forever be remembered as one of the greats of
our time.
This fight may be even
bigger to Juan Manuel Marquez and his legacy. Marquez has never
really
enjoyed the adulation from Mexican fans that was
once reserved for the likes of Barrera or Morales.
Even after beating Barrera recently, Marquez didn't get the
unabashed
public support from his own people, many of which felt Barrera
was over the hill. Marquez has always
been liked by Mexican fans, but not loved. He has never been fully accepted
by his own, and there are a couple reasons for this:
#1 -
He never fought the big names consistently,
nor did he have that one big super fight that would endear him to the fans.
#2 - For years Marquez's style of
fighting has gone against the stereotypical approach of
Mexican fighters. Instead of being a straight-ahead,
bullying type fighter, Marquez is more of a counter
punching boxer-puncher. This may be the reason why he gave Pacman
fits four years ago. However, Marquez is a different
fighter nowadays. He fights more aggressively, and doesn't
just strictly counter punch. This was evidenced the
most in his last three wins over Barrera, Rocky Juarez, and Jimrex Jaca. There are those who feel this new aggressive style could
play to Pacquiao's advantage.
This
fight with Pacquiao gives Marquez a chance to gain the
adulation of most boxing fans. I mean, what better way for Marquez to gain the
much anticipated recognition than to beat the Mexican
killer Pacquiao? Marquez would be a hero among his
countrymen if he could dethrone Pacquiao, and his legacy would
definitely be sealed in the Boxing world and among his own people.
Legacies will be on the line
this Saturday night; who, I ask, will capture his?
3-12-2008
