Boxing great Márquez rules out an exhibition fight with Pacquiao
One of Mexico’s greatest boxers of all time, Juan Manuel Márquez, says he won’t fight his fiercest rival in an exhibition bout. Here’s the reason why.
When thinking of the greatest boxing fights of all time, quite a few come to boxing’s analysts and fans. The rivalry and fights between Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti, or Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe are some of the most memorable clashes in the sport.
But if in recent times there has ever been such a competitive, high-level action, the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Márquez four-fight series is probably on the top in many boxing fans’ rankings.
In a moment where exhibition fights are getting more and more popular, Dinamita, now a promoter, seems to be on the other side of the road, as the Mexican great ruled out any chance of fighting one of the best boxers of all time and his most famous opponent, Manny Pacquiao, in these unofficial events.
Márquez, the third Mexican boxer to become a world champion in four weight classes, admitted that the words “fun” and “boxing” can’t be put together when if Pacman is in the conversation for an exhibition bout.
Márquez-Pacquiao: it can only be a do-or-die fight
Márquez, who retired as a professional boxer at the age of 41 with a unanimous win over Mike Alvarado, said that if he and Manny were inside the ring, things would get too serious for an exhibition fight.
“It wouldn’t be an exhibition fight, do you agree? With the courage that it brings me and after what happened to me, that fight would not be an exhibition. We would go up to kill each other again, so I don’t think so, that chapter is closed”.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao, who lost his last pro bout against Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugás on points in 2021, was in an exhibition fight lately and was keen on a fifth fight with Márquez.
However, the rivalry between these two greats may be closed for good. Although the Filipino superstar would welcome another clash even with a favorable 2-1-1 series result over the Mexican, Márquez is probably aware that his impressive knockout in their fourth and last encounter is almost impossible to improve.