Juan Manuel Marquez has been delusional in regards to the result of his October 12th fight with Timothy Bradley. He feels as though the refs robbed him of a victory, when in actuality he was dominated for much of the fight, and that there was some sort of conspiracy aimed towards him.
Many speculated that these feelings and his total money earned last year would send Marquez into retirement. In his most recent interview with Boxing Scene Marquez sounds like a man focused on a rematch with Bradley and thirsty for another headlining opportunity.
“I’m sad for what happened in my last fight, because I needed to win. I was more focused and stronger, but as I look to the future….what motivates me is a rematch with Bradley. Nothing else could take place if I don’t carry out this fight. I have to settle this issue with Timothy Bradley, as long as he accepts a rematch, because I want to make it clear who won on the 12th of October. Right now I’m not thinking about (other opponents), I’m more interested in making a rematch with Bradley to make it clear who is who. I already talked a bit with (trainer) Nacho (Beristain) and we feel that is the best option,” Marquez said.
Anyone with two eyes and the slightest boxing knowledge knows that Bradley won the first fight but a rematch may be Top Ranks best opportunity for a marquee fight.
This is all contingent on the result of Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Brandon Rios next month. If Rios wins I can see a rematch for Marquez because Bradley doesn’t have the fan base to carry a PPV event. If Manny wins then he’d likely earn the rematch with Bradley and the opportunity to prove that he was in fact robbed by the judges in their first bout.
That would leave Marquez waiting for the winner of their spring fight and in a position to fight either Rios or the heavy hitting Ruslan Provodnikov.