MARQUEZ SCORES IN FEATHER UNIFIER By George Elsasser

On paper the Juan Marquez - 'Deke' Gainer featherweight WBA/IBF unifier looked like a can't miss pairing ... and then the opening bell and we get instant letdown opposed to instant gratification.

Don't blame the Mexican ... Marquez did what comes naturally and brought the action - or, tried at least - to a Gainer that appeared fresh from the frozen-food department of the local food chain.

Gainer pus it in reverse and guns the gas pedal ... compare it to them "championship" rounds of Oscar-Tito a few years back and you are only tepid warm - the "Smokeless" gun ran for his life from numbers one thru the ugly ending seventh stanza.

Re that Oscar show ... the 'Golden One' never once looked for help from third hack in the ring ... so maybe we give him a purple heart or something for cloaked bravery - but not Gainer ... when not fleeing, he's begging for help ... worse yet, he gets it from some hack named Luis Pabon.

Finally it's round seven ... a growing shutout being tossed by the fighter of the two in the ring ... and it happens ... inadvertent clash of heads ... several replays clearly show them equal partners in the misdemeanor.

Seems both bent at the waist and ducked ... Marquez while trying to get some punches off and Gainer while attempting to avoid being swatted ... and "Smoke" comes out with a nasty cut over left eye ... and is seen asking the ref for relief.

After a pause among the ringside collective "brains" it went to the scorecards ... and with neither fighter claiming a local zip code we get a fair and accurate scoring ... all Marquez at 70-63, 70-63, 69-64.

Hooray for little favors ... Marquez now claims both WBA/IBF straps and could parley that into a Barrera money fight ... and other than ESPN2 circuit the one named "Smoke" qualifies as yesterday's news.

Semper fi,

GEL

11-01-2003