Mayweather Victory Over Marquez: No Glory at All

It was a mismatch right from the start. Heart was the only thing going on for Marquez – and the catch weight of 144 pounds.

But still, I hoped for a Marquez victory. I followed the 24/7 series and even if Marquez drank his own piss, I still egged myself to root for the guy they call Dinamita. But after they weighed in the night before the fight, I discounted all possibilities of a Marquez upset.

Four pounds were too much of an advantage. Did Marquez get paid for the Money’s excess weight to be beaten up like that? One can only speculate.

But the thing is, in my own opinion, Mayweather made sure he wins this fight. Of course, any fighter would want to have all the aces, but bulking up and getting away with it? The win does not, in any way, contain pride and dignity and does not elevate Mayweather to any higher heights. Instead, the win becomes a tool in another barrage of criticisms.

True, Mayweather is slick, has a good defense, and owns a pair of the fastest hands in the sport. But was he fair when he fought Marquez? Not in my eyes.

The weight issue also reminded me of a recent fight between Nonito Donaire of the Philippines and Rafael Concepcion of Panama. Donaire made the weight while Concepcion’s registered way over the limit. Donaire’s technical mastery of the sport, along with his inborn speed, helped him earn a victory at a weight disadvantage.

But Marquez did not have inborn speed. And the clear thing was his power did not climb with him. His punches didn’t even made a dent on Mayweather’s face. Instead, Dynamite Johnny invoked sarcastic smiles from Mayweather, egging the Mexican to punch a lot harder.

What was clear is that Mayweather fought someone who climbed two weight classes and also suffered a four-pound disadvantage to face him. It wasn’t the great and legendary Juan Manuel Marquez Mayweather fought, but some guy who was a bit slower, smaller, less powerful, and a lot lighter.

Mayweather may have defeated boxing’s second best fighter. But did he?