It's still amazing to see the amount of times JMM has been dropped, stunned, and almost to the brink of getting stopped. And yet in his entire career he was never stopped in a fight and has only lost by decision. Says a lot about his chin, heart, and recuperative skills. What fighters of the past (FW, SFW, LW, WW) could you have seen pulling off a stoppage or even a KO win over JMM? The only fighters I can see having the best chance at beating JMM by stoppage are big WWs such as SRL, Hearns, Trinidad.
A lot of WWs. Pryor, Chavez, Tszyu, Fuji, Napoles Duran, Williams, Bobcat, Mancini, Arguello Saddler, Sanchez? Just a few names, Pacquiao could bang, but was at a stylistic disadvantage. Also, Pacquiao probably would've stopped him in the first if it happened this year.
I'd pick Armstrong and Saddler to stop him at 126. Quite a few more at higher weights. People like Sanchez would just outbox Marquez at the lower weights.
WW yes LW yes but less. I think he can hang at the lower weight classes more natural for him. Hes as tough and determined as they get.
He had incredible heart and recovery powers. Very mentally strong. Tough to see him being stopped under 135.
Pacquiao and yes I'm being serious. He was almost stopped in the 1st round at 126. He was saved by the bell and could have been stopped in the 3rd round at 130. Obviously more times than not Pac wouldn't stop Marquez. But JMM was close to being stopped by Pac multiple times.
But that's the thing though. Pac had opportunities to stop JMM but just wasn't able to get the job done every time they met. Granted if there was a different ref for the first fight chances are that fight might have been stopped in the first round, but it would have robbed us of a great fight and a great rivalry that made both fighters ATGs. JMM not getting stopped by Pac in any of their fights was a mixture of his toughness, fighting spirit, and a bit of luck as well.
Pacquaio has acne too. When suspicions were raised by Pacquaio team he said he’d do the testing if Pacquaio did the same and then the crickets emerged. Not gonna deny Marquez became suspect around 2011/2012 but people conveniently forget Pacquaio was equally suspect and for far longer.
In the 12 round era rule set I am not sure I would pick any/many to stop him. Had he fought in the 15 round era I don’t have enough to base a pick on, but the odds of him being stopped increase.
Yeah same, straight right counters against an open off balance southpaw? Sounds like JMM has it covered.