You really have to feel bad for Juan Manuel Marquez. First he was listed as a 10-to-1 underdog going into the third bout with Manny Pacquiao, despite his credentials as a three-division world champion and being Pacquiao's most difficult opponent to date. Then, after putting on a masterful display of technical skills to seemingly get the victory over his rival that has eluded him for so many years, Marquez once again lost a close and controversial decision. And now, despite being on the losing side of the decision, he has now come under attack by naysayers who are all looking for a reason to explain why and how he was able to make Manny Pacquiao look like an ordinary fighter as opposed to an invincible superhero. Ever since the conclusion of the fight, there's been a litany of excuses, from Pacquiao suffering foot cramps to the old "step-on-the-foot" trick, the excuses continue to roll in on a daily basis, the lastest being a mysterious disgruntled employee who is supposedly ready to blow the whistle and allege that Marquez used steroids.
Here's a recap of just some of the many excuses that have come out following the controversial decision:
- FOOT CRAMPS
During the fight, Pacquiao began to experience painful cramping in the arches of his feet in the fourth round, claiming the discomfort did not allow him to fight to his full potential. "That was when it started," Pacquiao explained. "I felt so bad that my balance was gone. Every time I threw a punch I could feel it." Pacquiao complained about similar cramping during his previous with Shane Mosley. Although his trainer, Freddie Roach, made it a point to clarify that they were not making excuses, it's a serious enough concern for them to "get advice on it". - ALEX ARIZA WORKING THE CORNER
Some have questioned the presence of strength-and-conditioning coach Alex Ariza in the corner during fight, as he was seen working on the cut that Pacquiao received during the 10th round, despite the fact that they actually had a veteran cut man, Miguel Diaz, for that purpose. To his credit, however, the cut, which later needed a total of 28 stitches to close, seemed to be under control and never appeared to be a problem for Pacquiao during the remainder of the fight. - ARGUMENT WITH WIFE PRIOR TO THE FIGHT
There are some suggesting that Pacquiao's poor performance can be linked to a rumored argument that he had with his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao, on the day of the fight. Allegedly, Jinkee informed a close friend about the argument, saying it was so heated that Pacquiao threw his cellphone in anger. While it's doubtful that an argument with his wife alone can fully explain his subpar performance, outside distractions can certainly affect a fighter's mental state leading into the fight. That being said, the numerous distractions that Pacquiao has always dealt with has never seemed to be a problem in the past. - FOOT-STOMP TRICK
Video surfaced depicting Marquez stepping on Pacquiao's feet time and time again. Although it's not unusual for that to happen when a southpaw is facing an orthodox fighter, Marquez was shown doing it more than half a dozen times during the fight, leading conspiracy theorists to believe that he was trying to employ one of the oldest tricks in the book. - YELLOW SUBSTANCE IN DRINK
Some very astute fans noted that Marquez could be seen drinking a "yellow subtance" in between rounds during the fight. For days, they wondered exactly what he was drinking, until Keith Kizer, Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, cleared the matter up. "Water and electrolyte drinks are allowed in the corner. Any electrolyte drink must be brought to the arena in factory-sealed, plastic bottles. Mr. Marquez used water and Pedialyte on Saturday night," he explained. No mysterious mixed drink, not his own urine; just good ol' fashion Pedialyte, which was perfectly within the rules of the Commission. - STEROID USE
According to a story by Joaquin M. Henson, a source revealed that a disgruntled former employee of Juan Manuel Marquez team is on the verge of going public with proof that the lightweight champion used steroids to "bulk up" to the 144-pound catchweight that he and Pacquiao fought at. "A go-between has approached certain Filipinos involved in boxing asking if they're interested to meet this former Team Marquez guy," the source revealed. "He claims the steroid came from Marquez' refrigerator in his house, but who's to know for sure? It could just be a lie to discredit or embarrass Marquez because the guy has an axe to grind and a hidden agenda." More than likely, it's the latter, but this is certainly the most damaging of the excuses.