The Top 100 Greatest Boxers Pound per Pound of All-Time

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Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks. Monday, June 28th, 1988
Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ

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Next in our countdown, we got at position #52, Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico!

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Now, this is the countdown so far:
100. Jersey Joe Walcott
99. Sonny Liston
98. Vicente Saldivar
97. Gene Fullmer
96. Mike Tyson
95. Eusebio Pedroza
94. Benny Lynch
93. Jack Britton
92. Tommy Ryan
91. Mike McCallum
90. James Toney
89. Tiger Flowers
88. Joe Brown
87. Ted "Kid" Lewis
86. Peter Jackson
85. Beau Jack
84. Lennox Lewis
83. Abe Attell
82. Holman Williams
81. Azumah Nelson
80. Erik "El Terrible" Morales
79. Luis Manuel Rodriguez
78. George Dixon
77. Ricardo "Finito" Lopez
76. Manuel Ortiz
75. Marco Antonio Barrera
74. Bob Foster
73. Pancho Villa
72. Jimmy Barry
71. Packey McFarland
70. Miguel Canto
69. Carlos Zarate
68. Wilfred Benitez
67. Carlos Ortiz
66. Jack "Kid" Berg
65. Freddie Miller
64. Battling Battalino
63. Wilfredo Gomez
62. Fidel LaBarba
61. Maxie Rosenbloom
60. Billy Conn
59. Fighting Harada
58. Barbados Joe Walcott
57. Pascual Perez
56. Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles
55. Carmen Basilio
54. Kid Chocolate
53. Michael Spinks

And now, at position #52 in the countdown, is the great Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico !

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#52. Juan Manuel Marquez

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#52. Juan Manuel Marquez
Record: 56-7-1, with 40KOs
KO Pct = 71%
Career: 1993-2014
World Titles Held: IBF World Featherweight Champion (2003-2005), WBA World Featherweight Champion (2003-2005), WBC World. Super Featherweight Champion (2007-2008), and WBA World Lightweight Champion (2009-2012)

Highlights:. One of the few boxers to lose their first professional fight that later became all-time boxing pound per pound greats.......Was a triple crown world champion that won 4 world titles in 3 different weight classes......After first pro loss in debut, won 29 fights in a row from June 1993 to May 1995........After his second pro defeat, went undefeated in 16 fights, winning 13 in a row from November 1999 to May 2003, and stopped 10 foes in a row from August 2000 to August 2003......Was never stopped in 64 bouts......Beat 9 out of 13 world champions (Record: 10-6-1 with 6KOs).....Beat 2 out of 3 hall of fame boxers (Record: 2-4-1, with 1KO)......Was 6-3-1 with 2 knockouts in 10 world title bouts.

Historical Impact: A brilliant counter-puncher that was one of the best pound per pound boxers of his era...... Considered as one of the best featherweights in history......Had 4 epic bouts with the great Manny Pacquiao, producing one of boxing history greatest all-time rivalries.

Defining Fight: WKO6 Manny Pacquiao (IV)...... December 8, 2012....."Finally took "the monkey off his back" by knocking out one of the greatest champions in history"

Other Defining Fights: WTKO7 Manuel Medina, W12 Marco Antonio Barrera, WTKO11 Joel Casamayor, , D12 Manny Pacquiao , L12 Manny Pacquiao (II), and L12 Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Your thoughts on this great champion from Mexico City, Mexico who was also a terrific puncher and a brilliant tactician. One of Mexico's best of this millennium

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#52. Juan Manuel Marquez
Record: 56-7-1, with 40KOs
KO Pct = 71%
Career: 1993-2014
World Titles Held: IBF World Featherweight Champion (2003-2005), WBA World Featherweight Champion (2003-2005), WBC World. Super Featherweight Champion (2007-2008), and WBA World Lightweight Champion (2009-2012)

Highlights:. One of the few boxers to lose their first professional fight that later became all-time boxing pound per pound greats.......Was a triple crown world champion that won 4 world titles in 3 different weight classes......After first pro loss in debut, won 29 fights in a row from June 1993 to May 1995........After his second pro defeat, went undefeated in 16 fights, winning 13 in a row from November 1999 to May 2003, and stopped 10 foes in a row from August 2000 to August 2003......Was never stopped in 64 bouts......Beat 9 out of 13 world champions (Record: 10-6-1 with 6KOs).....Beat 2 out of 3 hall of fame boxers (Record: 2-4-1, with 1KO)......Was 6-3-1 with 2 knockouts in 10 world title bouts.

Historical Impact: A brilliant counter-puncher that was one of the best pound per pound boxers of his era...... Considered as one of the best featherweights in history......Had 4 epic bouts with the great Manny Pacquiao, producing one of boxing history greatest all-time rivalries.

Defining Fight: WKO6 Manny Pacquiao (IV)...... December 8, 2012....."Finally took "the monkey off his back" by knocking out one of the greatest champions in history"

Other Defining Fights: WTKO7 Manuel Medina, W12 Marco Antonio Barrera, WTKO11 Joel Casamayor, , D12 Manny Pacquiao , L12 Manny Pacquiao (II), and L12 Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Your thoughts on this great champion from Mexico City, Mexico who was also a terrific puncher and a brilliant tactician. One of Mexico's best of this millennium

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Juan Manuel Marquez, a top featherweight contender for years, had the doors shut on his face by the time that he was recognized a true contender.

Rumours had it that superstar and champion, Prince Naseem Hamed of England didn't want nothing to do with him, according to HBO. Other most known and famous stars like Marquez's countrymen, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik "El Terrible" Morales, clouded the public because of their all-out warring style.

What was the difference with Marquez? Well, like Barrera and Morales, he was also a warrior. The difference between them and Marquez, was that Marquez was a solid counter puncher. And counter punchers are a nightmare to great warriors.

Also, Marquez wasn't as exciting as those two. So for years, he was in the shadows of these two gladiators. And when you throw Hamed into the mix, there's not much space or anything else to put your eyes on him.

In this list of the top 100 pound per pound great boxers, Marquez probably is the most underrated fighter with the highest ranking at position #52. By studying and looking at his matches you could see why.

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Juan Manuel Marquez hit the big time on HBO's Boxing After Dark Series. His first world title fight was for the WBA World Featherweight Championship held then by Freddie Norwood of St Louis, MO.

Norwood, a southpaw, was an established champion nicknamed "Lil' Hagler". The ONLY thing that he resembles like Marvelous was that like Marvelous, he was bald and southpaw. Other than that, he didn't had nothing to resemble as the legendary middleweight. If any, he resembles his style like the great four-time division world champion Pernell Whitaker of Norfolk, VA.

With an undefeated record of 34-0-1, with 20KOs, Norwood brings his crown to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. He is twice WBA World Featherweight Champion. He was stripped off his title in September 1998, but regained it against former champion Antonio Cermeno of Venezuela, beating Cermeno again for the second time for the same title by decision.

Marquez at age 25, came into the ring with a record of 29-1, with 22 knockouts.

When the fight started on Saturday night of September 11, 1999, the crowd wanted to see a great contest. Both fighters flatly disappointed, big time! There wasn't enough action. The only action was some occasional head butts, trips, and falls and inept refereeing by Joe Cortez of Puerto Rico.

When Norwood put Marquez down with a straight left on the jaw in the second round, the crowd thought that the fight was going to get some steam. But, it didn't. None of the two contestants show anything.

Marquez dropped Norwood in round 9 with a right hand. Those were the two events that were seen in this boring and dreadful fight. It was one of the most boring contests that I have ever seen in my lifetime.

When the fight was over, Norwood retains his title by unanimous decision. Was it a just verdict? Not at all! None of the two deserved a win. In my view, this fight was a draw. A challenger got to overwhelm the champion in order to win by decision. He didn't. End of story.

Marquez never fought Norwood again. Norwood loses his crown 4 fights later in the year 2000 to Derrick Gainer of Pensacola, FL.

Marquez goes home disappointed that he didn't win the title.

Marquez drops to 29-2, 22KOs. Norwood improves to 35-0-1 with 20 knockouts. Of Hagler, he didn't had nothing.

I

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Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico solidifies himself as a world champion when he totally outclassed country man and former featherweight champion Manuel Medina.

It was Saturday, February 1, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The fight only lasted 7 rounds.

Marquez dropped Medina in the second round and that set the tone for the rest of the fight.

After 10 years as a professional boxer, Marquez finally becomes a world boxing champion.

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Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico becomes world boxing champion by stopping his countryman Manuel Medina on February 1, 2003

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Juan Manuel Marquez became IBF and WBA World Featherweight Champion when he took the WBA crown from Derrick Gainer of Pensacola, FL by a unanimous technical decision in 7 rounds.

Now, Marquez is in the line to defend his WBA and IBF World crowns against The Ring Magazine Featherweight World Champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines. At the time, Pacquiao was the best fighter pound per pound in the world.

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The night of Saturday, May 8, 2004 came and Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, is set and ready to defend his IBF and WBA World Featherweight crowns against the Ring Magazine and Lineal Featherweight World Champion, Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

Pacquiao, 25, achieved superstardom in the world of boxing when he totally outclassed and dominated the great Marco Antonio Barrera, Marquez's countryman.
He became a national symbol and a hero in his country. For the Philippinos, he was God. Something resembled years before with another great boxer, Roberto Duran of Panama. The comparisons are similar. Both were revered in their respective countries with a fervor never match in any other place in the world.

It was already Sunday morning in the Philippines when the fight in Las Vegas, was at 6:30pm Eastern Daylight Time.

Marquez, 30, wasn't as revered in Mexico as Pacquiao in the Philippines. The comparisons were not even close! He was third fiddle to Barrera and Erik "El Terrible" Morales when it came to popularity. But, can he on this night, become Mexico's greatest? Could his legend start tonight? We will never know. It all depends how this fight with Pacquiao goes.

Countless people of the Philippines traveled from Manila to Las Vegas to see their hero in action. Many Mexican and Chicano fans were there to root for Marquez. It was an electricfying atmosphere around the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Round one started and the fireworks erupted from the get go. Pacquiao's speed became a problem for Marquez early. How early? Maybe too early. A left hand lead down to the pipe on Marquez's face and Marquez went down to the canvas! The Philippinos went wild! Marquez got up. He was able to continue. As fight resumes, another left lead right on the pipe again and Marquez goes down! This is a nightmare for all Mexicans watching this. They can't believe what they were watching in disbelief. Is Pacquiao that good? Better believe it. Marquez gets up for the count. Luckily for him, there's no 3-knockdown rule. But, his nose is bleeding by Pacquiao's straight left shots. Next thing we see, Marquez goes down to the canvas for the third time! Are you kidding? The Philippinos went wilder! It was something not seen in a long time. The bell sounds and saves Marquez from serious punishment. He survived the onslaught. He survived the storm. The first round clearly was won Pacquiao by the score of 10-6!

In round 2, Marquez recovers. But, he still got trouble with Pac-Man's speed. Especially, the left hand lead. It's fast. It's lethal. It's accurate. He loses round two also. But, he was still a little shaken from the first and horrible round that he survived.

In round 3, Marquez put it together and won his first round of the fight. But, he still got a lot to climb back into the fight. He is still way behind.

By round 5, it was noticed that Marquez did something to Pacman. He started to neutralize Pacquiao's left hand by using subliminal counter punching of his own. Now, it frustrated Pacquiao in a way he has not been in before. Marquez started to show that he indeed, is a great champion.

The rounds were back and forth for each fighter. And the Mexican crowd, that was in disbelief and fearful of his champion being 3 times on the canvas in the first round, started to get confident by each round passing by. Marquez was showing to his fans and the whole world, that he's a champion with a lot of heart, grit and determination.

On my take, Pacquiao did a mistake. Instead of putting up the pressure on Marquez, he started to fight on Marquez's pace. And that was a no-no. He had to keep the foot on the gas by throwing his lethal left hand lead. He threw it, but not we with regularity. He got trapped in Marquez's game.

Marquez in my view, fought smartly and very intelligently. He won the last two rounds. But, were those rounds enough to win the fight? No. The super lead by Pacquiao in that lethal and scary first round did it. It was too much of a lead. Maybe if the fight was 15 rounds, he would have taken the decision.

When the fight was over, both fighters congratulated each other. It was a sign of great sportsmanship and respect for one another.

When scorecards came in, the fight was declared a draw. The beginning of controversial scoring and controversial fights were in the beginning of its heyday. Pacquiao in my view, won that fight outright, even though he made a crude mistake at the middle of the fight in not pressing and putting the foot on the gas.

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Juan Manuel Marquez came back from three knockdowns in the first round and recovered from the storm in spectacular fashion. You got to give credit of his comeback and bravery. Another fighter, would have called it quits or given up. He showed courage, grit, heart and determination. Something that great champions of the sport of boxing are measured by.

But, did he win the fight? No. Was it a draw? In my view, it was not. Manny Pacquiao deserved the nod. He and his fans from the Philippines, left with a bad taste in their mouths.

Pacquiao leaves the ring with his title and record now of 32-2-2 with 29 knockouts. Marquez left with his record intact of 42-2-1 with 33 knockouts. This fight was the beginning of their four-fight rivalry all the way for the next 8 years. Fight #2 happened 4 years later.

For the Mexican fans, Marquez became a new hero. But, still, he didn't pass the popularity of their boxing idols like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik "El Terrible" Morales. The Holy Trinity of Mexican boxing greats of that era started with this fight. Would Marquez surpass his two countrymen as the best Mexican of his generation? We will see. As for now, he is happy that he is still the IBF and WBA World Featherweight Champion.

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Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez fight #1. Saturday, May 8, 2004 at MGM Grand , Las Vegas, NV.

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Juan Manuel Marquez came back from three knockdowns in the first round and recovered from the storm in spectacular fashion. You got to give credit of his comeback and bravery. Another fighter, would have called it quits or given up. He showed courage, grit, heart and determination. Something that great champions of the sport of boxing are measured by.

But, did he win the fight? No. Was it a draw? In my view, it was not. Manny Pacquiao deserved the nod. He and his fans from the Philippines, left with a bad taste in their mouths.

Pacquiao leaves the ring with his title and record now of 32-2-2 with 29 knockouts. Marquez left with his record intact of 42-2-1 with 33 knockouts. This fight was the beginning of their four-fight rivalry all the way for the next 8 years. Fight #2 happened 4 years later.

For the Mexican fans, Marquez became a new hero. But, still, he didn't pass the popularity of their boxing idols like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik "El Terrible" Morales. The Holy Trinity of Mexican boxing greats of that era started with this fight. Would Marquez surpass his two countrymen as the best Mexican of his generation? We will see. As for now, he is happy that he is still the IBF and WBA World Featherweight Champion.

If I remember right, I scored that fight 6-6 in rounds but the 3 knockdowns gave Manny a 114-111 win for me.

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Juan Manuel Marquez came back from three knockdowns in the first round and recovered from the storm in spectacular fashion. You got to give credit of his comeback and bravery. Another fighter, would have called it quits or given up. He showed courage, grit, heart and determination. Something that great champions of the sport of boxing are measured by.

But, did he win the fight? No. Was it a draw? In my view, it was not. Manny Pacquiao deserved the nod. He and his fans from the Philippines, left with a bad taste in their mouths.

Pacquiao leaves the ring with his title and record now of 32-2-2 with 29 knockouts. Marquez left with his record intact of 42-2-1 with 33 knockouts. This fight was the beginning of their four-fight rivalry all the way for the next 8 years. Fight #2 happened 4 years later.

For the Mexican fans, Marquez became a new hero. But, still, he didn't pass the popularity of their boxing idols like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik "El Terrible" Morales. The Holy Trinity of Mexican boxing greats of that era started with this fight. Would Marquez surpass his two countrymen as the best Mexican of his generation? We will see. As for now, he is happy that he is still the IBF and WBA World Featherweight Champion.

If I remember right, I scored that fight 6-6 in rounds but the 3 knockdowns gave Manny a 114-111 win for me.

It was a very biased scoring for the judge that scored it 10-7 instead of 10-6 for Manny Pacquiao in the first round. To me, Pac-Man was always the better fighter. But, Juan Manuel Marquez won those last two fights in my view. Some say that he never lost to Pac-Man.

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By the end of the year of 2004, Juan Manuel Marquez, the IBF and WBA World Featherweight Champion, of Mexico City, Mexico, is one of boxing's top 10 fighters.

But, still, he was not as exciting as his countrymen Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik,"El Terrible" Morales, two warriors that gave everybody's their money's worth. I am not saying that Juanma wasn't a warrior. He is, but not in the same breath as Morales and Barrera. Those 3 became the Holy Trinity of Mexican boxing in the 2000s decade.

Juanma finishes the year 2004 with a boring decision win against former IBF World Featherweight Champion, Orlando Salido, another countryman. The fight was so boring that I have called it one of the most boring contests that I have ever seen in my lifetime.

Then, in May 2005, he defeated Victor Polo of Colombia by another boring decision win. Marquez only wins. He doesn't please the crowd. He is a counter puncher that is effective with that style. But, by no means he can become Mexico's greatest if he keeps this trend. Mexican fans love their heroes that bring lots of action. Marquez doesn't compromise to those demands.

After establishing himself as one of boxing's top 10 boxers of 2006, I never understood why he had to travel to Indonesia to challenge WBA World Featherweight Champion, Chris John. I never got it.

Why didn't John come to Las Vegas? Why Ma rquez got to go to a Far East country to challenge for a crown that he already had before? To give us another snoring fest? No way! It's like Juanma doesn't give nor let give you a fight. He just fights at the level of the game.

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It was Saturday March 4th, 2006 and of all places, Juan Manuel Marquez travels to Tenggarong, Indonesia to challenge WBA World Featherweight Champion Chris John. The local crowd is excited about their local hero.

John, came in to the arena with an undefeated record of 36-0-1, with 20KOs. He is making his 5th title defense. In a jammed packed house at the Karang Melenu Sports Hall, I saw another snoring fest. Another stinker no longer. Until when, Juanma? Until when? It's like the 4th straight fight gone the distance for Marquez. The last 3, as boring as a company meeting.

None of the two did nothing special. It was so bad that the only thing exciting was when the Panamanian referee, Guillermo Perez Pineda, took two points off Marquez in two successive rounds. They were the 10th and 11th rounds. Marquez was deducted two points for low blows. And instead of fighting the last rounds as his life depended upon it, he kept fighting the same way. Not risking anything. Just go with the flow. And that is a no-no. You got to overwhelm the champion, Juanma. Especially if you are fighting in his hometown.


Marquez lost the fight by unanimous decision. And justifiably so. You got to go and get it. What is it that he doesn't understand?


The Indonesian crowd went berserk and are elated by the triumph of their local hero.

It was well deserved. I scored the fight 115-114 for John.

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Juan Manuel Marquez vs Chris John.
WBA World Featherweight Championship

Saturday, March 4th, 2006. Karang Melenu Sports Hall. Tenggarong, Indonesia.

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With that much said, Juan Manuel Marquez drops to 44-3-1, with 33 knockouts. Two of those losses were questionable. He never goes back to Indonesia ever again. I guess that he learned his lesson.

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Juan Manuel Marquez had a hard fighting campaign after losing to Chris John, for John's WBA World Featherweight Crown.

In the year 2006, Marquez ends the year by beating two tough guys that the other boxers of the time, would not spend the time to fight them.

Marquez won by knockout in his next two fights against Tersdak Jandaeng, of Thailand, a former Thai boxing champion. In a great scrap, Marquez won by KO in 7 rounds in Reno, NV. That happened in August 5th.

Then, on November 25th, he beats by knockout against another southpaw from the Philippines named JimRex Jaca. Marquez won by knockout in 9 rounds, but he paid a price by having a deep gash cut on his forehead. The fight was in Las Vegas, NV.

It was the third Oriental Far East fighter in a row that Marquez got into the ring. Two of them were southpaws in two successive fights. Is he preparing himself for a possible rematch with the great Manny Pacquiao?

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Starting the year 2007, a much more polished and seasoned veteran like Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, age 34, is about to fight another veteran. Who's that? That's his countryman and WBC World Super Featherweight Champion, the great Marco Antonio Barrera.

Barrera, at 33, is another veteran that started his career at 15 in 1989. Since then, he electrified the public with his all aggressive style for 18 years in the game. He fought the best of the best of his time, losing and winning some like Erik "El Terrible" Morales (three times), Manny Pacquiao, Junior Jones, Paulie Ayala, Johnny Tapia, Prince Naseem Hamed, and Kennedy McKinney, a fight that opened his stardom in a 12 round war in 1996. It was probably Barrera's most defining fight.

Now, at Jr. Lightweight, he is the WBC champion. He was a veteran of 67 fights with a record of 63-4, with 42 knockouts. He had 17 more fights than Marquez.

In Mexico, Barrera and Morales were the two gods of the Mexican fighting fans. Marquez with the record of 46-3-1, with 35 knockouts was to be said as the third god in Mexico. But, now, he has to prove if he belongs to the Mexican Trinity. He is fighting Barrera. All of them fought the great Manny Pacquiao. And of the three, only El Terrible Morales beat the Filipino superstar. Pac man beat all three of them in my view, even though his fight with Marquez three years earlier was a draw.

It was Saturday, March 17th, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Barrera defends for the fifth time his crown against Marquez.

It was an electric fight by for real. A fight that Mexican fans should be very proud of. An all action-packed war. Barrera seems not to be washed up after all these years. He still shows that he got it hitting Marquez with fast left jabs. He was dominating the first 6 rounds.

But, the fight turned upside down when Marquez showed signs of brilliance in round 7, beating the Baby Faced Assassin to the punch. In that same round, a right cross from Barrera drops Marquez. Seeing Marquez touching the canvas with his gloves, instead of pulling back, Barrera kept punching while Marquez was on the canvas. American referee, Jay Andy, took off and deducted a point against Barrera for hitting while the other opponent was down. It became a 10-8 round for Marquez. What a break!

Marquez in my view beat a tiring Barrera for the last 3 rounds and I think that that gave Marquez the nod.

Marquez became the new WBC World Super Featherweight Champion by defeating Barrera in controversial fashion. That's why today, I believe, that we need the 15 rounds. It's needed because of fights like this. It's needed because there are too many controversial decisions. And it's needed because boxing is losing its flavor. The other sports like MMA and UFC, are replacing, day by day, and year by year, the sport of boxing. Boxing is losing popularity of the last 25 years.

But, it doesn't diminish Marquez's triumph. Did he really win? For some, he didn't. But that's what you get of his fights. Controversial scoring after next.

Barrera, drops to 63-5, with 42 knockouts.
Marquez improves to 47-3-1, with 35 knockouts and is right in the place of the Mexican Trinity. He wins his second world boxing crown in his second weight class.

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And to prove that how controversial boxing is today after the last 25 years, the scores couldn't be more controversial and cynical.

Judge Patricia Jarman and Judge Paul Smith scored it 116-111. And Judge Doug Tucker scored it 118-109. All in favor of Marquez? That was some bullshit and horrendous scoring! What fight they were watching? I don't know. That fight was thin-razor close!

I had it scored 115-114 in favor of Marquez. But, the fight could have gone either way. Barrera fought great. But, that's the problem with boxing today. Too much controversial scoring. Boxing needs the extra three rounds. Fifteen rounds instead of twelve. The paying customer is losing for this type of fights.

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Marco Antonio Barrera vs Juan Manuel Marquez

Saturday night of March 17, 2007.
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

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Seven fights and four years later, Juan Manuel Marquez, the great WBC World Super Featherweight Champion from Mexico City, Mexico has another chance to get at the great Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

Their first meeting was at featherweight, in which was called a dubious draw in which according to my view, and my view only, the Pinoy Filipino, won outright.

Well, Pac Man also wanted to settle the score and the rematch was signed for Saturday, March 15, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

The rematch was named "Unfinished Business" because of the draw and the opinions of the public and fans in picking who won the fight was very much well divided. Some say Pacquiao won. Some say Marquez.

Well, this fight will settle the score of who is the better fighter between the two.

Marquez became a cult hero in Mexico after the first fight with Pacquiao in which he got up from 3 shaking knockdowns to come back to fight himself to a draw. He beat one of the Mexican Holy Trinity in Marco Antonio Barrera by decision a year before in a fight that could also have gone either way.

Are Marquez's fights always like that? Has he really lost a fight? Sometimes his fights come out unsatisfying by the hand of the judges. The fans this night don't want any other controversial scoring.

And off they went. Philippinos and Mexican fight fans among the American ones were there to witness the two best Jr lightweights of the World. It was an electric and exciting atmosphere that it eventually became a boxing rivalry between the two countries of Mexico and Philippines. Or we may say, Pacquiao vs the Mexican Holy Trinity of Marquez, Barrera and Erik "El Terrible" Morales.

Pacquiao already has fought the three of them. He beat 2 of them convincingly. Morales beat Pacquiao in the first fight of their rivalry in 2004. Since then, Pacquiao's record vs the Mexican Holy Trinity is 4-1-1 with 3 knockouts.