Juan Manuel Marquez: Where does he rate?

In truth, a lot of Julio Cesar Chavez's fights really weren't all that competitive. He fought around 5 times a year, he liked to stay busy with lesser competition. It was his way of training, keeping sharp. Chavez was never really capable of dominating fights in the same fashion a Floyd Mayweather or a Ray Leonard were. That sounds obvious, but my point is that he walked through his opponents, which makes taking shots himself almost inevitable. If he didn't think the opponent was strong enough to withstand pressure, he'd simply walk-through them.

That being said, if there's one aspect to Chavez's game that is often under-appreciated, mostly by fans who haven't properly looked at his career, it's his defense. He wasn't just bulling forward, head first, he kept a relatively high guard, would parry, and rolled with punches which effectively limited the damage. Likewise, he employed consistent head movement, often evading desperate flurries from over-matched opposition. Chavez was the full package, among the best combination punchers to head and body I've ever seen. Not the fastest, but his pin point accuracy made all the difference.

I can't believe we have fans in this thread who believe Marquez has any case at all at being considered the greatest Mexican fighter of all time.

 

Indeed. Boxing fans are fickle.

 

:deal

let's not say the best mexican, but he will surely beat barrera and morales in terms of greatness IF he conquers the 140lb division. Time is running out for Juan.

 

JMM is the man, I love watching him fight with the exception where he fought PBF. He has great skills and improved alot with age. People always writing him off but I hope he can win his next fight BUT I dont see him winning against any of the hot new propects @ 140 the only person I see him being able to beat at that weight would be Zab because he folds.

 

If Marquez conquers the 140lbs division, I will eat my hat.

 

:good

 

That's IF JMM can. IMO he can't beat Tim, Alexander, Khan or If Pac goes down to 140. But he has to stay his ass off from the canvas to have a chance on winning.

 

I have no problem in saying Marquez has absolutely no chance at clearing up the Junior Welterweight division. I don't like to be so dismissive, but that's how I feel.

 

This :deal

 

Tuning in for Williams/Martinez II?

 

Early in his career Juan Manuel was a great counter-puncher. Hit and not get hit Which is the whole idea,''The Manly Art of Self Defense. He was a true technition. a style not apreciated by the Mexican boxing world or the average fight fan. He was avoided by a lot of fighters for this style. Listen to Emanuel Steward on JMM's fights. He has no problem saying that THe Prince,who he trained avoided Marquez. Later he changed to his present agressive style to get the big fights. Still a great counter puncher. But getting hit more because of staying in the pocket taht extra split second to land the harder punches. Ducked by many ,ducking no one in my opinion. I rate Juan Manuel Marquez up wiyh any All Time Mexican Great. Just a shame the bigger fights come at the end of his carreer.

 

Its hard to choose a favorite from JMM Morales and Barrera... But if I had to it would be JMM by a slight edge...MARQUEZ NASEEM is the BABY BULL... All I need is for him to close the 3rd chapter with pac beat katsidis and take on another young lion in the 140LB division.


Everyone forgets that before Marquez faced Juan Diaz... everyone was riding Juan's nuts that he is gonna beat pacquiao, paquiao wouldn't last...He is the next big star...

Then JMM knocks him out and practically ruins Juan's career.. And what do these fans say..

JMM is shot he got hit to much... Juan Diaz is **** he wasn't as good as we thought...?? WTF just because JMM laid him out on the floor in expectacular fashion now Juan was ****... that was a hard fight for JMM but he did come out on top and laid the man out and didn't get up for a while.


JMM is #1 in my eyes by a slight edge at this point to Morales and Barrera... beating Katsidis, 3rd chapter with pac, and 140LB young lion and JMM takes the best mexican of this generation...

 

I don't see what either Bradley or Alexander have JMM can't handle. Sure the physical limitations are there, but because they can't fight backwards and are often predictable in their rhythm, Marquez takes it IMO.


I think people underrate his resume. A still very game Barrera before Pac got to him, a still game Casamayor, some good wins in Juarez, Jaca, Salido; Should have been given the win against John who is otherwise undefeated, brutally knocked out Juan Diaz when he was the rising star of the division, and AT LEAST proved to be 2008 Pacquiao's equal 4 years apart from each other when Pac was developing into the monster he is now and I think fought n beat the best version of him in the rematch out of the other Mexicans. I think he will beat Katsidis, then the mandatory Guerrero, or he will vacate and go after the easiest 140 pounder. If he doesn't move up, then he might fight a rising Lopez or Gamboa.

The thing is, Marquez is doing most of these things past his prime. If he can beat another top ten pound-4-pound fighter or two before he retires, he'll definitely be above Morales and Barrera in my opinion. Right now they're seemingly interchangeable.

 

JMM is Pacquiao's daddy

:deal

 

Good...because he did little during his supposed prime. Making up for lost time...almost.

I consider Barrera and Morales interchangeable, Marquez has work to do.