Ethan Miller - Getty Images
Juan Manuel Marquez feels that his old rival Manny Pacquiao has the edge on Timothy Bradley. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
In an interview with RingTV.com, Juan Manuel Marquez says that he doesn't think Timothy Bradley has the power to defeat Manny Pacquiao when the two meet on June 9.
"Even though Bradley is a great boxer, and he has skills, he needs the power. He (doesn't) have that power. Pacquiao has the speed and Pacquiao has the power. The difference in this fight is power. The difference will be the power punches that Pacquiao has."
Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KO) is still the lightweight champion of the world, and is coming off of a debated loss to Pacquiao in November that did nothing but raise his stock as a marquee player in the boxing world.
Marquez was negotiating for a fight with Lamont Peterson, but Peterson chose instead to rematch Amir Khan on May 19, something Marquez has no frustration over. He's still targeting a return in April against David Diaz in Mexico City as a tune-up, and then casting his gaze on Cowboys Stadium for July 14.
It's difficult to imagine an opponent out there who would be right for Marquez on July 14 at that venue, as there just aren't many suitable names for a fight of that magnitude. Brandon Rios springs to mind, but Rios is set to fight on April 14, perhaps against Yuriorkis Gamboa. If Top Rank is comfortable with a Marquez vs Rios fights, plans could change -- it would be quite an opportunity for Rios, and he says that's a fight he wants.
0 recs | 86 comments
What the hell is all this nonsense about Cowboy's Stadium.
Its what, an 80000 seater arena? Is there anyway that Marquez puts more than 15,000 in that place? The atmosphere would be non-existant.
As for Bradley, to win he has to go inside, which he is comfortable doing (and not just with his big bald dome). If Bradley tries to box then Pacquiao’s speed will win it the firght for him (Pacquiao I mean).
Personally I hope Bradley gets KO’d. Mainly because it bugs me the way ducked Khan. And yes it was a blatant duck, just read the interviews he gave after signing for TR where he said that he wasn’t interested in Khan and it wouldn’t help his career. This was before Khan lost to Peterson and way before Bradley was in the Pacquiao sweepstakes.
I'm going slightly mad - February 12, 2012
hard to see how he’s wrong for saying fighting khan would do nothing for his career. if he’d’ve fought khan and won, the result, most likely, would’ve been…an eventual fight with pacman. he didn’t fight khan; the result’s a fight with pacman.
Victor Schultz - February 12, 2012
No one in his position at that time would have fought Amir Khan on that date.
Amir Khan would not have fought Timothy Bradley in the same situation.
Scott Christ - February 12, 2012
But isn’t that kind of the definition of ducking someone? You don’t want to risk fighting them because, well, they have a very good chance of beating you.
I don’t see how he couldn’t have just beaten Khan, still signed with Top Rank, and fought Casamayor in November.
Kory Kitchen - February 12, 2012
You know that Cameron Dunkin and his other career managers (including Top Rank, who let’s be serious he had spoken with while under Shaw/Thompson contract) would absolutely 100% advise against fighting Khan before that contract was up, right?
This was a pure business decision which served to annoy boxing fans, in many ways rightfully so. I’m not saying Tim deserves no criticism for it, though. He probably shouldn’t have made a big stink about fighting Khan and then backed out. That was just stupid. But it was a unique situation, not something that comes up very often, and I feel uncomfortable putting it in the category of the wide open and generally overused “duck.”
Scott Christ - February 12, 2012
Bardley Ducked Khan
He calls the guy out on T.V. Then Khan accepts. He decides he doesnt want to fight Khan. So Khan offers a split of the revenue he was to receive overseas. He then Ducks Khan. He lucks out with Khans loss to Petterson. Plus being bought out by Top Rank I believe. Then landing the Paquiao fight.
PhinsAllDay - February 12, 2012 via mobile
It was a completely empty offer. Bradley had made very clear he wasn’t taking the fight. Khan could have offered him his car and a night with his fiancee and 70% of Khan’s revenue in future fights, too. The fight wasn’t happening. It’s easy to offer what you know won’t be accepted.
Scott Christ - February 12, 2012
What kind of car? Pic of the fiancee.
Everyone has a price
PhinsAllDay - February 12, 2012 via mobile
she's cute!
Scott Christ - February 12, 2012
I think Bradley would have taken your deal. lol
PhinsAllDay - February 12, 2012 via mobile
Certainly better than what Bradley goes home too
Eugene Banks - February 12, 2012
I haven’t seen Bradley’s wife/gf, but that’s a pretty bumped up comment.
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Eugene just bein' bad
But Bradley definitely didn’t marry for looks
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
Train to perform for it either! :)
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
in fairness,
neither did Bradley’s wife.
abcdefghijklost - February 13, 2012
oh Veronica Vaughn, so hot. Want to touch the hiney, aaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh
TheDreadedMarco - February 13, 2012
It was no luck being taken by TR
And I’d love to hear one other example in recent memory where a fighter makes a management change that reaps the short and long term proportionate rewards that Bradley has achieved by switching when he did.
Say what you want about the kid, but do not say he’s not smart.
pakinpower - February 12, 2012
Bradley Pacquiao happened within a year of “ducking.” And Bradley makes 2-4 times more money and will get 5 times more exposure. What was he thinking??! :)
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Exactly my thoughts on him fighting at Cowboy stadium
I live right by the stadium and I would absolutely love for it to happen, but i don’t think theres anyone outside of Pac and May that he could fight that would fill that place. I think they had a hard enough time selling tickets for both of Pacquiao’s fights there…
rpm0003 - February 13, 2012
I feel like my point is being missed.
Bradley gave interviews AFTER siging with Top Rank that beating Khan wouldn’t help his career. This was before he was close to getting Pacquiao.
I get that a major reason that Bradley signed with Top Rank was to get Pacquaio, but as even this site is reporting, it wasn’t part of the road map that he would be fighting Pacquaio in 2012.
I'm going slightly mad - February 12, 2012
Yes he did. I don’t argue that Tim Bradley didn’t help himself in the court of public opinion. He probably should have just said “I’m not fighting Amir Khan right now because it’s not in my best interests given my contract situation, which I’m not at liberty to discuss,” or something like that, because that’s the reality. But a lot of these guys think they need some kind of juicy quote, so he kept offering worse and worse quotes.
Still I don’t totally disagree with him — beating Khan would have done what, ultimately led to a fight (maybe) with Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather? Bradley felt he was done at that level and that Shaw and Thompson couldn’t take him any higher. They probably couldn’t have (they did a really good job with him, but they were maxed out).
Scott Christ - February 12, 2012
you have a point
Landing a fight with Manny was a sweepstakes or lotto pick. He has said in many interviews that he wanted “the big fight”, but Khan was not price he was willing to pay to land it. Who can blame him? Khan was and is a risky fight. Almost every fighter’s career is suspect to “he didn’t fight __________” or “he fought so & so when they were past their prime”. We have this scrap now and I Scott has convinced me it will be worth the PPV. I just hope the undercard is better than what Golden Boy threw together.
honorablecbm - February 12, 2012 via iPhone app
We want our fighters to be smart. To be independent and thoughtful.
Give Bradley major props.
pakinpower - February 12, 2012
Yeah it’s sad to see all the hate on Bradley. This is a guy who traveled to another continent to win his title, defended it against legitimate competition in Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell and Lamont Peterson, proved himself against an undefeated, hard-hitting fighter in a division above his, and cleaned out the #2 or #3 guy in the division depending on who you ask. He fought three fighters in a row and beat all of them solidly and still nobody gives this guy the credit he deserves. He can’t even switch out of a bad promoter without people jumping on him.
theninthlayer - February 12, 2012
9th has a point!
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
thanks for the truth
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
TRUTH!!!!!
Vicodin3 - February 13, 2012
Marquez has this fight pegged exactly right...
…and he should know. Relatively easy Pacquiao KO.
Wlksrck - February 12, 2012
i dont see manny ko-ing bradley
nickfoxx - February 12, 2012
Stopping maybe
But I do not think Timmmy goes to sleep that easily
pakinpower - February 12, 2012
I call it “sour grapes” or in Spanish “Las uvas de sour” (como se dice sour??! )
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Marquez is probably right
the only fighter I think that would give an accurate prediction against Pacquiao considering he has the most experience and success against him.
av1o3 - February 12, 2012
Power doesn’t mean that much. I see Pacquiao winning by decision by sheer angles and speed, but I don’t see power being the issue. Both men can bang.
RyanSexton - February 12, 2012
When was the last time we’ve seen Pacquiao give “angles” (jab cross, jab jab cross, double left hand or lead left and reload doesn’t count). Maybe Margarito or Clottey?
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Cotto
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
You know, even though it was a mismatch, the Oscar fight was still at thing of beauty. Pacquiao def. pieced him apart.
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
It was not a mismatch. That is revisionism. It was a changing of the guards.
I say that as a awe struck Oscar fan. Manny simply ripped him a neew a-hole faster than he could say, I never saw where the punches were coming from.
Look, I get weight draning. But Oscar made the rules for that fight. He was a pfrohibitive favorite. And he was typhooned.
Pure and simple.
No matter how much a nation/politicalorganization/person wants to revise history, the truth will ultimately manifest itself. Manny beat Oscr from pillar to his seat in his corner.
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
Nah, I am saying it in hindsight. Everyone thought Oscar was gonna destroy him, but Manny’s performance was beautiful! That and the Miguel fight were def. his best at 147 imo.
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
agreed
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
btw, I hope Peterson destroys Khan in May…
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Sad to see so many Americans hate on Bradley. This is why boxing in America is going downhill nowadays, nobody wants to support skilled American fighters. Why aren’t more people behind this guy?
It’s the same thing with Mayweather, when I hear people hating on Mayweather or taking Pacquiao’s side reflexively I think, why aren’t you supporting your American fighters? It’s kind of funny that as Americans we have no national pride for our fighters. Every other country gets behind their guys at least a solid 90%.
theninthlayer - February 12, 2012
…Because it’s 2012 and Nationalism isn’t cool anymore. Good boxing, good personalities, hard work and good styles. I’m not obligated to like any boxers because of where I live.
RyanSexton - February 12, 2012
Also, not saying you shouldn’t have a soft spot for your country-mates. I certainly like some boxers because we share some kind of identity, but it only goes so far.
RyanSexton - February 12, 2012
Furthermore, we simply live in a flatter world … so to speak.
You favorite NBA team is more than likely filled with international stars. Tennis and Golf are populated with the same. Baseball is as much Caribbean as it is American. The list goes on.
Boxers are loyal but mostly to themselves. Few American fighters develop their careers based on service and loyalty to anyone but themselves.
Floyd is but one example. He waves the flag only when he is being attacked, not to win fans. Unless of course he believes America loves those who burn and throw money.
Tim Bradley is about to get sold to the boxing world and beyond. His perfomance inside and outside the ring will dictate the levels of his marketability. Not his being an American.
Look at the Klitschko’s, Ukranian champions celebrated throughout Europe but certainly in Germany.
pakinpower - February 12, 2012
to theninthlayer
I personally find myself talking about boxing to Mexican and Puerto Rican friends and acquaitances far mor oftebn than I do to my ‘American’ friends. The fact is the former are American as well. Very much so.
pakinpower - February 12, 2012
Floyd is a jerk, I don’t blame pple for disliking him, I do, and I used to LOVVVE his skills. Well I like watching him fight, but his public persona is quite ugly, and well, cheap shotting Ortiz didn’t do him any favors (unless he was “Money” Mayweather under the lights for that one too!). Bradley is gonna whoop Pacquiao’s tale, and Marquez just has sour grapes b/c Bradley got the fight, or his ego is saying “ONLY I CAN BEAT HIM.” Not like Marquez is a big hitter at 147 either. Shyeeet.
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Caw. Caw. Caw.
That’s your poor crow being cooked.
BTW, Gamboa is not going to fight Rios. He said he wanted to…but decided against it.
You heard it first.
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
Hey, I’ll eat it when it happens, but you’ll be watching Pacquiao looking at the ceiling in btwn rounds worse than the Marquez fight.
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
When Bradley wins I will be reposting my “Vouch for Bradley” all over!!!
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Assuming (and it’s assuming, maybe, a lot) that Pacquiao is still Pacquiao, i.e., his legs are OK, Bradley will not beat Pac. Marquez has it exactly right, giving Bradley credit for everything but power. But he does not have much power, certainly not compared to Pac, and power counts for plenty in that ring. Especially if skill and speed are close to even (and that’s giving Bradley plenty of credit, I’m not so sure it’s true), power makes the difference. I’m convinced Bradley just doesn’t punch quite hard enough. He never really gets his back into his punches enough—they’re more than arm punches, but just not enough.
BoxAnne - February 13, 2012
His downfall against Manny
will be his recklessness. I notice he leads with his head and lunges too much. Considering he tasted Alexander & Peterson like power, I don’t think his corner will break out the smelling salts. I believe it will be a late stoppage by the ref. Great observation on the “arm punches”.
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
I think Bradley’s chin is good, don’t think he’ll go down easy, TKO only, not a true KO. I think he’ll put up a real good fight. But I think he’ll lose, he won’t be able to hit Pac hard enough, and Pac will indeed be able to crack Bradley hard. And even with Bradley’s good defense, he’ll get got, and it will change the game.
BoxAnne - February 13, 2012
Sure, but they also support their Peurto Rican and Mexican fighters. They go out and root loudly for guys like Cotto, Chavez Jr, JuanMa Lopez and Juan Manuel Marquez. They go fill arenas for their fighters. Where is the same kind of support for American fighters?
Floyd gets no credit from either fans or the media for essentially beating all legitimate opposition. Everybody talks about Manny Pacquiao being an All-Time-Great, I’ve very rarely heard anybody say the same of Mayweather even though Floyd may have the better case for it. What more can this guy do before people start supporting him? He’s beaten heaps of great fighters and the only guy to ever come close to beating him has been Jose Luis Castillo, and Floyd gave him a rematch! Everyone was talking about how great Mosley’s win over Margarito was and then when Floyd fought him he got no credit for the win. Ortiz couldn’t even scrape him in September and he got no credit for that win either, even though he was completely in the right to end the fight the way he did. He called out Pacquiao and Bob Arum who gave every excuse in the book to dodge the fight. Floyd is an All-Time-Great but for some reason people can’t help but hate on him.
I have no problem with people supporting boxers of other nationalities, I am a fan of a lot of great non-American fighters. But give some of America’s finest boxers some support, people!
theninthlayer - February 13, 2012
Ppl are naturally drawn to pple and personalities that are greater than themselves. Ali, Tyson, Pacquiao had something different about their personalities or fighting styles or both. Skill, style, and personality knows no bounds…
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Floyd markets himself. And I think he does a crap job. Short term, great. long term, small potatoes.
He will leave the scene and be yesterdays’ news in the popular culture UNLESS he gets a marketing specialist to re-hab the damage that he has done.
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
And why should I root for a man who beats women
And professed (vs Corrales) that it was an abomination.
See Chris Brown. Think Floyd Mayweather.
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
To Floyd’s credit, he may not get love, but he gets attention and recognition and popularity… $$ for now, good fights for now, and no love or glory for later…
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
You don’t have to root for him. But recognize him for the talent he is and for the accomplishments he’s achieved in the ring.
I’m not going after you specifically or anybody else really, it’s just disheartening to see nobody give Bradley the benefit of the doubt on things like him ducking Khan even though he’s a premier American talent that challenged and convincingly beat a lot of tough fighters. People undercut Floyd’s achievements too, but he’s beaten every guy that has ever been considered a challenge to him too.
theninthlayer - February 13, 2012
I complement Floyd in the ring
See my posts. I give him all the props in the world. Always have.
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
I agree on all fronts except that Floyd beat ALL guys, he beat some guys, and did NOT fight a lot of good and potentially GREAT fighters in their prime.
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
But you loved Corrales. Even after he was sent to prison for beating up his pregnant girlfriend.
Zfan - February 13, 2012
We are talking about fighters
This isn’t a social study, electing a politician or saint. There are loads of athletes with a checkered past…
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
AMEN
Zfan - February 13, 2012
Tell that to Muhamed Ali (behavior outside the ring) and Mike Tyson (behavior outside and inside the ring) who for different reasons were loved and vilified.
pakinpower - February 13, 2012
Come out of jail with a sober
View of the those around him and of himself. I don’t think that will happen. He makes it so easy for people to hate him, because of his horrendous PR skills. He seems likable during post-fight Q&A with the press. That makes me wonder if he can turn that persona on/off. Regardless, he will be legendary when he “truly” retires from the sport. People will look back at his career and admire his skill set and entertainment value.
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
Definitely agree 100% with that post. I don’t know much about boxers that don’t have movies about them, so typically it’s not what I judge them on… It’s the fights I’ve rewatched, and that’ll be the case for people who look back on Mayweather 30 years from now. People seeing Mayweather with 42+ victories with a clean record will certainly respect his skill.
He’s a slick Michigan fighter, and he’ll at least be mentioned with the other slick greats for time to come.
RyanSexton - February 13, 2012
Well I agree with you there. Floyd is an all time great, and Manny is overhyped, but let’s be real here, media clowns like that tall white guy from ESPN that says that Floyd is scared of Manny’s speed don’t know a thing about boxing.
People love to hate Floyd, and I don’t think he minds. They criticize him for wasting money – Does thrift help the economy? No. Thrift destroys the economy. He spends his money, and he spends it in America (mostly). But because he flashes his money people criticize him. I’m not saying that showing off money is great, but would the world prefer he didn’t spent his millions of dollars?
RyanSexton - February 13, 2012
"Manny is overhyped"
Manny is a tremendous athlete and fighter. His ability to finish a fight in a dramatic fashion, speed and willingness to exchange are why the media and public love him. What I see (& I think you see) is the careful matchmaking that true boxing fanatics loath. His trail of opponents from 2009 to present did not challenge him the way Marquez and Morales did. That is not entirely his fault. Is his record trumped up? Any fan of this bloody opera can break down almost any fighter’s record (should have or didn’t fight).
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
Something to keep in mind when comparing the support that a US fighter gets from US fans vs the support that say a fighter from Mexico gets from Mexican fans is the degree of popularity of the sport in the different countries. In the US boxing has become a niche sport that hardly ever gets major media coverage in the news. Major fights are only aired on top tier cable channels or even worse on PPV. Think about it, the highest selling PPVs right now average between 1-1.5 million buys on tv. So it’s no wonder that very few Americans (relatively speaking) are interested in boxing, since few get regular exposure to it. In Floyd’s case in particular, the guy is a jerk off the ring, so even when he gets attention it’s hard for the media to portray him as some type of national hero that the country could rally around. Compare that to how boxing is appreciated in many other places. In many places boxing sits much higher in the pecking order of national sports, for example in Mexico its popularity only comes second to soccer, where every major fight that involves a mexican fighter is broadcasted nationally by one of the the two major national tv channels. You don’t even need cable to watch them, so nearly anyone with a TV has access to them, and you can see that reflected with the number of people who watch the fights (I think it was 19 million for the last Chavez fights, Canelo does a bit better than that on average, Pacquiao vs Marquez was seen by over 30 million). It is much easier to rally around fighters that you get constant exposure to. In addition to that, not only do they get more exposure simply due to their work, but the media does try to portray them as much as possible as national heros or at the very least media personalities you should follow, giving them air time in shows outside the sports realm (think Marquez singing with Pacuiao in the mexican equivalent to American Idol), or Arce being a member of Big Brother when the show was at its peak in popularity some years ago. And this type of treatment is not new, at least since I’ve been alive, boxers have been regular guests in all kinds of media in Mexico, whether it is movies, soap operas, game shows, talk shows, you name it.
No matter your nationality it is hard to root for someone you simply don’t know regardless of the quality of the boxer (think Bradley), and for most casual fans in the USA that is the case when talking about most US boxers. They might recognize some names here and there (think Floyd now), and maybe even tune in for one fight, but then if you don’t hear again from that boxer for the next year or two, and when you do it tends to be associated with legal problems, well don’t be surprised if most are not jumping in delight supporting him.
leo_solis - February 13, 2012
Yet somehow the Mayweather crowd has jumped all over Adrien Broner
I’m not even sure I get that one
Brickhaus - February 13, 2012
He’s flashy, he’s cocky, he gives the impression he’s in love with himself, he plays a character, he has people brush his hair. He’s a young successful black kid with a “hip hop image” (that sounds so goddamn white but I can’t think of a better way to put it) and what appears to be a bright future. I’d say it all adds up, really.
Scott Christ - February 13, 2012
Nah...
He’s still developing as a boxer. Anyone jumping on that wagon is betting on potential. His line of opposition only allows him to display a decent jab off a high guard and an overhand he launches as a counter. Showboat & good speed, but nothing to trip over (yet).
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
Floyd has a load of talent, and my favorite fight of his will always be Phillip Ndou fight…
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
Yeah, that fight was awesome
But what about Corrales and Gatti. I think those two, along with the Ndou fight were his most dominant performances
Zfan - February 13, 2012
Marquez was one of the most amazing fights I’ve seen. Albeit I know the reasons for it – It’s amazing to see Marquez give Pacquiao trouble when he seemed out of answers against Mayweather. Styles make fights though.
RyanSexton - February 13, 2012
I hope you haven’t seen very many fights!
Sammlung - February 13, 2012
Sorry, I meant in disparity of skill. At this point I recognized Mayweather as above and beyond most competition.
RyanSexton - February 13, 2012
I was teasing ya. I get what your saying. I agree that he’s an amazing fighter.
Sammlung - February 13, 2012
How can Bradley win this fight?
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
Corrales was the finest performance of Floyd’s career to date IMO
Sammlung - February 13, 2012
I agree with that one, he beat Diego with his own game (slugger)
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
back to Bradley
Bradley isn’t a walk in the park. His recent opposition was tough, so Marquez shouldn’t belittle his punching power. That reminds me a comment Larry Merchant made during Bradley vs Alexander: “Bradley can’t punch his way out of a wet paper bag”. Funny, but cold blooded… Anyhow, I think Merchant & Marquez are wrong on that one.
honorablecbm - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
He has enough power to keep you honest I’d say. He’s rocked many of his opponents. As others have said, he’s an awful finisher. I doubt he can really budge Manny who has a great chin, but he isn’t totally feather fisted. Obviously Manny has much more power in both hands, but I don’t know if that’ll be the decisive factor.
Sammlung - February 13, 2012
Saying Bradley has no power is like saying Gamboa has a horrible chin
Both are defensible positions if you haven’t actually watched them fight, only Bradley has hurt a number of fighters with solid chins, and Gamboa has been off balance nearly every time he’s been knocked down. It would be much more accurate to say that Bradley doesn’t know how to attack effectively when his opponent is hurt, and that Gamboa has awful footwork that leaves him off balance during counters, but making those arguments is too nuanced to fit in a sound bite, so people don’t try to make the argument. Other than Teddy Atlas, who I’ve heard correctly make both observations before.
Brickhaus - February 13, 2012
+1
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
for brickhaus
cylee1180 - February 13, 2012
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