Where Floyd Mayweather seems to be reluctant, Juan Manuel Marquez is more than ready, willing and able to step inside the ring with Manny Pacquiao at all costs. "I'm right here. I'm right here. There's no hiding, there's no running," Marquez would plead to the media at the post-fight press conference shortly after his unanimous decision win over Juan Diaz this past Saturday. Where others appear to be avoiding him, Marquez made it clear this his focus and top priority is a rubbermatch with Manny Pacquiao, begging for another opportunity to prove that he can in fact defeat the Filipino icon.
"I'm right here. I'm waiting for him. Our first fight, everybody saw what happened and I'm right here. I mean, that's what boxing wants," Marquez continued, referring to the first time the two warriors met inside the ring, when Pacquiao floored him three times in the first round only to see Marquez get up, battle back and earn a draw. It was a performance rivaled only by their second bout, another back-and-forth battle that saw Marquez taste the canvas again before battling his way back to a close and controversial split decision loss.
"That's what boxing needs and, you know, he needs a fighter that can beat him and I'm right here waiting for him, so whenever he's ready to knock on my door, I'll be right here," Marquez added. Without question, Marquez will be the one waiting, as Pacquiao's rise through the divisions has catapulted him to worldwide fame and recognition, allowing him to pick and choose his battles as he sees fit. There's no doubt that Marquez will be forced to take the short end of the stick when it comes to all aspects of the negotiations, particularly the purse split and the weight, but those are risks that he's willing to take just for more chance to face his rival. "I'll fight Pacquiao between 140 and 145 pounds. I'll fight Pacquiao no problem," Marquez emphatically stated.
It's a refressing attitude in a time when, more often than not, fighters are less than eager to take a risk unless the reward is well worth it. If the two ever met again, it would be the third time that Marquez was eager to face the man that many consider to be the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. That fact alone is an impressive feat, especially when it's clear that Floyd Mayweather doesn't even want to face Pacquiao once, let alone three times, and for that reason, I think Juan Manuel Marquez is more than worthy of getting his opportunity.