A Mexican Three-way

By Sean McChesney


On Saturday night the attention of the boxing world will be fixed on Juan Manuel Marquez, 48-3-1 (35) as he attempts to accomplish something his contemporaries, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, could not do – post a career winning percentage against Filipino icon, Manny Pacquiao, 45-3-2 (34).

Marquez, the proverbial underachieving and overlooked member of a legendary Mexican triumvirate (along Barrera and Morales) will battle Pacquiao in a rematch at The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sharing a common vindictive interest, Barrera and Morales fans – who are renowned for their disdain for one another – will unite with a common interest as they root for Marquez. Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions explained, “everybody in Mexico and Hispanics here in the United States, they are all talking about this fight. Juan Manuel Marquez is the last man standing for Mexico.” Pacquiao already “beat two other fighters in Erik Morales and Mark Antonio Barrera.”

Mexican boxing fans are quite possibly the most impassioned in the world. Popular fighters are beloved for their displays of patriotism, and revered for their machismo. Julio Cesar Chavez, perhaps the most celebrated athlete in Mexican history, is a prime example of the ideal Mexican prizefighter.

As the Chavez era wound down in the mid-to-late 90’s, national public demand for a successor escalated. The next in line came in an unusual form – a Mexican three-way. Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez emerged as worthy beneficiaries who proceeded to dominate the Mexican boxing headlines for the better part of the last decade.

When Chavez was at the peak of his powers he was the sole identity of a boxing nation. Whenever he fought, a country cheered for him.

The national unity dynamic changed as the uber-talented threesome rose through the ranks. Because they competed in, or near, the same weight class, it seemed natural that they would become rivals; the allegiance of Mexican fans fractured, and then realigned as sect-like supporters of Marquez, Barrera, or Morales.

Morales and Barrera were both highly skilled boxers. They attacked with aggression and violent intent to inflict damage upon their opponents. They were stereotypical Mexican fighters – though extremely good ones. Marquez, however, cannot be pigeonholed into the same stratum. Instead, Juan Manuel maintained a different mental temperament, preferring to dissect an opponent with an exceptional blend of precision counter-punching and apt defensive skills.

Though Marquez was, perhaps, more technically sound; his style did not resonate with Mexican fans who are savvy but quite fickle. Often times winning takes a back seat and the driver is the manner in which a boxer applies his craft. Aggression and violence are applauded and counterpunching is encouraged only after you’ve eaten a punch.

That, of course, is a crude generalization, which may not represent an entire population, but the premise is supported in practice. While Marquez is loyally supported, the size of his fan base pales compared to those of Morales and Barrera.

Marquez stated recently, “I don’t see it necessary for people to compare Erik Morales, Barrera and myself. We are three different fighters.” But when you compete in an individual sport in which hypothetical match-ups are often debated – sometimes as fervently as the fighters compete in the ring – comparisons are inevitable.

As Barrera and Morales engaged in an all-time great trilogy and participated in numerous televised high-profile bouts, they became near demigods in certain regions. Meanwhile, while seemingly dealt a short hand, Juan Manuel Marquez maintained a successful career even though it was to a lesser degree and with far less fame and opportunity.

In 2004, Marquez, who held two featherweight titles at the time, had jockeyed himself into a position to fight on HBO against Manny Pacquiao, who recently had conquered Barrera. The bout represented Juan Manuel’s first mega-fight, and a chance to escape from the daunting shadow of his Mexican brethren beneath whom he had spent much of his career.

Marquez, the underdog, was dropped three times in an ominous opening stanza. Subsequently, he would recuperate and out-box Pacquiao for most of the remaining eleven rounds of a bout that ultimately was declared a draw. Marquez recalled the action: “After the fourth round I was dominating the fight. [He] won one or two rounds, three at the most.”

Though a draw was disappointing for Juan Manuel, the contest would become career-defining; he shone in the spotlight for the first time.

Larry Merchant stated, “I think win or lose, (Marquez) has made his mark among Mexican fans for showing the courage and fortitude to put himself back in this fight.” Jim Lampley replied, “I feel like giving them a standing ovation.” “There is no other candidate for fight of the year.”

Six months later, the all too familiar pattern reemerged as Marquez lost a degree recognition after the third Barrera-Morales war won ‘2004 Fight of the Year,’ as well as ‘Round 11 of the Year’ honors.

After the Pacquiao fight, Juan Manuel’s career appeared to be heading towards big money bouts and naturally there was demand for a rematch with the Filipino.

However, in what can be explained only as an ill-advised career move, Marquez declined terms to fight an immediate rematch with the Pac-Man. Instead he chose to travel to Indonesia to fight Chris John for a reported $30,000, approximately three-quarters of a million dollars less than he had been offered for a rematch with Pacquiao. He lost a controversial decision to John. Having sidestepped the notoriety of a world title, and dealing with a crucial set-back after losing to a nondescript opponent, Marquez once again straddled the line of anonymity.

It wasn’t until 2007, after signing a promotional contract to fight for Golden Boy Promotions that, at the ripe age of 33, Marquez would out-point Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez to position himself once again for a major payday against Manny Pacquiao.

It took four years for the highly anticipated fight dubbed “Unfinished Business,” to come to fruition. Marquez–Pacquiao is not only the most important fight in the 130-pound division; it is potentially a legacy-defining contest.

The rematch has been promoted as a showdown between nations: Mexican revenge placed on Juan Manuel’s shoulders. But isn’t it ironic that Marquez – a man who was never quite afforded the attention of his peers – is now asked to take “center stage” and avenge his nation?

As Marquez heads into the most important fight of his career, his truly loyal fans, those who have supported him throughout his career, aren’t focused on the underlying ‘revenge of a nation’ theme. Instead, it’s likely they are hoping that – regardless of the final result – he will put forth an effort that will convince boxing aficionados around the world that the auspiciously talented Juan Manuel Marquez is in fact a deserving equal shareholder of the legendary Mexican Three-way.


Questions or Comments, Please Email Sean McChesney