Juan Manuel Marquez looks past Pacquiao for Mayweather

By Robert Cassidy

Juan Manuel Marquez has essentially said, “Who needs Manny Pacquiao?’

While Marquez and Pacquiao have waged a pair of compelling fights, Pac Man has moved on to bigger and better things. And while pundits try to line up Pacquiao’s fight schedule, few have been calling for a third match with Marquez.

That may change now.

On Saturday night, Marquez gave away 10 years to Juan Diaz and still flattened him in his hometown of Houston. It was an exciting fight, one that it seemed the 25-year-old Diaz would win. He carried the early rounds with pressure and combination punching. But Marquez, 35 and now a three-division champ, weathered the early attack to score a dramatic ninth-round knockout. It was a thrilling finish to a fight with “Fight of the Year,” potential.

Marquez has fought Pac Man twice, losing a split decision in March of 2008 and holding the Filippino to a draw in May of 2004. He called for an immediate rematch after their bout last year, but Pac Man moved up and shocked Oscar De La Hoya. Pac Man is next scheduled to fight Ricky Hatton in May and many experts are calling for him to fight Miguel Cotto in November. Both are high-profile names — which translates into big money — but they may not be as deservering a date with Manny.

Marquez was clearly frustrated with his inability to get a third fight with Pacquiao. And though a third JMM-Pac Man fight may come in time, immediately after he disposed of Diaz, Marquez looked in another direction. He called for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to come out of retirement and fight. read more

Filed under: David Diaz, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton

Hatton vs Pacquiao Prediction

<!–
google_ad_client = “pub-5161085239586630″;
/* PM/PT 468×15, created 1/28/09 */
google_ad_slot = “3448614590″;
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 15;
//–>

<script type=”text/javascript”
src=”http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js”>
By Jake Roberts

On May 2nd, Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao will go toe to toe for what is the ‘P4P’ championship. It already has boxing fans salivating at the prospect of their two all-action styles clashing in Vegas. There are so many intangibles with this fight I don’t know where to start, so lets examine their recent performances.

2008 was a phenomenal year for the Pacman, starting with a razor thin split decision over world class Juan Manuel Marquez. Despite the controversy, these two guys put on a breathtaking spectacle for twelve rounds and neither really deserved to lose. Next he disposes of the extremely game but limited David Diaz. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, David Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton

Ratings Update: Campbell’s exit shakes up lightweights

<!–
google_ad_client = “pub-5161085239586630″;
/* PM/PT 468×15, created 1/28/09 */
google_ad_slot = “3448614590″;
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 15;
//–>

<script type=”text/javascript”
src=”http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js”>
By THE RING Editors

Nate Campbell’s failure to make the 135-pound weight limit for his lightweight title match with Ali Funeka and his subsequent victory over the talented South African on Saturday caused major repercussions within THE RING’s divisional ratings.

Campbell, who came in three pounds over the lightweight limit last Friday, announced before and after his hard-fought majority decision over Funeka that he would campaign in the 140-pound division immediately after the fight. read more

Filed under: Ali Funeka, David Diaz, Joan Guzman, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Diaz, Kermit Cintron, Nate Campbell, Ricky Hatton