he was very boring up until about 2004-2005. before then he fought in a very safety first style and wasnt popular very much at all.
I dont think he's that popular cuz whenever i speak to my Mexican homies, they just know him by his name or just dont care much.. But to me anyways, he's Boxing God and as much as i love Morales, Marquez is better than him and Barrera combined. He's on the level of Finito and sanchez, straight up homey.
He was always in the shadow of MAB and Morales, but he is very popular near around the part of Mexico that I know of. Also, his first fight with Diaz had 40 millions viewers in Mexico.
Get the **** outa here. The only fight I remember JMM "playing it safe" was against Norwood and he paid the price for that shitty performance. Other than that he has been knocking out fighters left and right and has always been one of the most exciting "counter punchers" out there.
Currently the most popular fighters in Mexico would be in no particular order: Montiel, Cazares, Romero, Rojas, Alvarez, Caro, Ulises Solis, Arce, Montes, and marquez, Angulo, Marquez Brothers, segura, and JHonny Gonzalez
I pity Juan Manuel Marquez. His career would have been in greater heights if he had a BETTER MANAGER and CONSULTANT!!!