Tim Bradley vs. Juan Marquez: Legend-In-The Making Versus A Living Legend

Photo by Chris Farina/ Top Rank

Bradley Remains Undefeated …Again

The Californian has been picked by respected critics on numerous times throughout the latter part of his career to lose to fighters that he ultimately triumphed over such as: Kendall Holt, Lamont Peterson, Luis Carlos Abregu, Devon Alexander and Manny Pacquiao. Against Holt, Bradley saw the canvas for the first time in his career but fearlessly rose to the occasion by cruising to a unanimous decision.  Before consecutively meeting Bradley in the ring, Peterson, Abregu and Alexander were all undefeated.  After Bradley was done with them, all 3 brave men left the ring with their perfect records tarnished taking the first losses of their professional careers.  International superstar, Manny Pacquiao, was a 5-1 favorite heading into his match with Tim last June and not even he could avoid being swept by the Bradley desert storm, losing the fight via split decision. Therefore, in a match were he again enters as an underdog, Bradley’s star power could only get that much brighter with a win over the legendary Marquez.  A win for Tim this weekend will raise his stock exponentially if he dispatches of one more boxing legend, and as the saying goes, “in order to become a legend you have to beat a legend” and the victory for Tim Bradley would transform him into an undefeated, living legend.  

Bradley Enters The Mayweather Sweepstakes

Hypothetically, if Bradley pulled off the upsets on both Pacquiao and Marquez all inside of 16 months, there is no way that his name wouldn’t be tossed into the hat as a potential opponent for Floyd “Money” Mayweather.  The story for this potential high-caliber championship match almost writes itself thanks to both warriors being undefeated, in their primes, title holders and unquestionable rulers of their respective divisions. Mayweather has fought the best available opposition in the junior middleweight division and holds all the major titles at that weight, thus Bradley could possibly even move up a weight class to challenge Floyd incidentally going for another title in a new division. If Mayweather were to choose to move back down to 147 lbs next year for his next scheduled bout, he has a worthy challenger to test his claim to the throne when it comes to the current king of the welterweights.  A Bradley vs. Mayweather match-up can be a draw on various levels and attract attention from a wide demographic of boxing fans.  

Marquez Takes Bradley And His Haters

Boxing is the hurt business, but it also thrives as a realm that personifies justice and revenge.  Last summer, Tim Bradley upset Manny Pacquiao via split decision at the MGM Grand in a bout where the majority of media, professional analysts and fans alike felt the Pilipino sensation did enough to retain his WBO belt. Needless to say, Pacquiao didn’t according to the judges and now Bradley is putting that belt on the line against Marquez. Supposing that the Mexican icon is able to lift the WBA championship from Bradley come Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, my guess is that those who felt that Bradley lost, as well as those who feel Pacquiao was outright cheated, would gladly accept an outcome regardless of the mechanics, where Juan Marquez “takes back” Manny’s belt.  A simple “W” for Juan then absorbs in a way the Bradley hatersturning them into Marquez supporters.  Marquez claiming another title in another weight class would instantly stamp his name in the record books, forever echoing his accomplishment throughout the hallways of boxing immortality.  

“Dinamita” Marquez the King of Mexico and Its Box Office

As a direct result of parallel careers, Marquez spent some time living in the shadows of fellow extremely popular Hispanic fighters; Oscar De La Hoya, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera which prevented Juan from reaching the pinnacle of the sport sooner. Even with the recent loss of rising superstar, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at the hands of Floyd Mayweather this past September, the Latino fan base is seemingly in the palm of Marquez’ hands if he can continue his winning ways. Retired are De La Hoya and Barrera and while Morales trudges on, back to back losses have only tainted the Tijuana fighter’s legacy. “Canelo” Alvarez should return next year, his youth allows for his recent loss to be washed away into a faded memory but for now, there is no denying that his pride as well as popularity has taken a 10 count after being embarrassed by Mayweather last month.  Thus, the landscape for a Mexican fighter to scoop up all the ticket sales, merchandising and PPV money is wide open for Marquez should he emerge victorious this weekend.  The triumph over Bradley would then set up mega-fights for Juan whether it is a career high payday in a 5^th Manny Pacquiao fight, a lucrative Mayweather rematch or even a Puerto Rico versus Mexico-flavored battle pitting Miguel Angel Cotto against Marquez. The future is only that much more promising for Marquez with a win on Saturday night and why not? He has worked extremely hard to get here during the last two decades.

Regardless of what the cards hold for either man headlining the HBO PPV this weekend in Las Vegas, the storylines, subplots, and intrigue has boiled into what makes a fight potentially legendary.  Not just because fans will surely talk about iton Monday morning at work, but simply due to the fact that the two men involved in the 147-poun title clash are true warriors of the sport that have proven extensively that they are willing to die in the ring if need be in order to capture victory. They personify the warrior’s code; they always come to fight, given it their all and its boxers like these that breathe life into the sport. If that’s not a recipe for the stuff legends are made of, then I don’t know what is?