Bob Arum knew Juan Manuel Marquez wouldn’t retire following his bitter loss to Tim Bradley

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Bob Arum discussing the Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Mike Alvarado matchup (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com / Naoki Fukuda)

By Chris Robinson

Following his tough loss to Tim Bradley this past October, there was some uncertainty regarding the future of Mexico City’s Juan Manuel Marquez.

Having turned 40 this past August, Marquez insisted that a rematch with Bradley, and a chance to win a title in a fifth weight class, was the only interest to him.

Months went by and it seemed more and more likely that Marquez would indeed end up fighting. Earlier this month an interesting clash with former junior welterweight titlist Mike Alvarado was officially announced, as Marquez will meet up with the Denver native on HBO on May 17 from the The Forum in Los Angeles.

Catching up with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who will be staging the Marquez-Alvarado matchup, he was quick to point to the historical significance of Marquez returning to a refurbished venue that he is so familiar with.

“I think it’s an interesting fight because of the styles of the fighters,” Arum noted. “I think that Alvarado is going to give Marquez a hell of a fight and very well could beat him. I just think it’s a tough fight for Marquez and I’m thrilled that Marquez is going back to the Forum, where he made his bones, so to speak. Now he’s coming back opening up the new Forum. It’s very exciting.”

Marquez fought a spirited battle against Bradley but he was simply outworked and out slicked at key spots in the match.

And while the disappointment that followed was obvious to spot in Marquez, Arum knew his pride would carry him on.

“No,” Arum answered when asked whether he ever thought Marquez might walk away. “He was disappointed. He always thinks [he won] close fights. He’s very competitive and that’s the first thing he says is ‘I’m going to retire.’ I never thought he was serious.”

There is already another opportunity on the table for Marquez, as a victory over Alvarado could lead towards the winner of the April 12 rematch between Bradley and Manny Pacquiao.

“If he beats Alvarado he wants the winner of Pacquiao-Bradley,” Arum stated. “That will give him another chance to win the welterweight title and that’s what he’s looking for.”

*** FOR  A  VISIT back in Pacquiao’s career in photos, check the thumbnails below…

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Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com

 

Joel Diaz says he is ready for Freddie Roach’s bullsh*t; expects the critics to emerge after Bradley beats Pacquiao again

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Trainer Joel Diaz breaking down the Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley rematch (Photos: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com / Naoki Fukuda)

By Chris Robinson

Having been linked to WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley dating back to his amateur days, trainer Joel Diaz has over ten years in the bank with one of the world’s best fighters.

Bradley will look for a third successful defense of his crown when he faces off with eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao on April 12 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada in a huge rematch.

Bradley upset Pacquiao via a controversial split-decision nearly two years ago and Diaz insists that his fighter is better honed for the second encounter.

“No complaining; everything is going good,” Diaz told me recently. “Preparation is better than the first one. Tim could fight this weekend. Tim has been training really, really hard. He’s excited and most of all he wants to prove that he’s going to beat Manny Pacquiao no doubt.”

Diaz is anticipating more backlash once again following the rematch, and referenced Bradley’s October split-decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez as a possible precursor to how he may operate vs. Pacquiao.

“Even if he beats Manny Pacquiao, regardless of how he beats him, [they] aren’t going to give credit, because there’s always a hypocrite who says ‘Manny Pacquiao is no longer the same after Marquez knocked him out,’” Diaz said.

“All we’re going to do is beat him the way we did to Marquez,” Diaz added. “Marquez, we were not in there to please anybody. We were just in there to take care of business and win.”

Bradley had a banner 2013 that started off with a gutsy victory over Ruslan Provodnikov in a wild brawl before he returned to outfox Marquez over twelve rounds.

Bradley seems to be hitting his stride as a prizefighter and Diaz insists he will be good to go next month.

“Our confidence level is so high,” Diaz explained. “After fighting Ruslan Provodnikov, who hits a lot harder than Manny Pacquiao, and [he] took his punches and finished the fight. And then fighting Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked out Manny Pacquiao, and just cruised and beat him. The confidence level is high. We know what Manny Pacquiao brings to the table and we’re ready for it.”

*** FOR  A  VISIT back in Pacquiao’s career in photos, check the thumbnails below…

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Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com

Zab Judah feels that Marcos Maidana is too slow to compete with Floyd Mayweather

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Zab Judah speaking in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)

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By Chris Robinson

The training camp of Floyd Mayweather is heating up in Las Vegas and as if often the case with the game’s best fighter, there have been a bevy of fellow fighters, supporters, and fans swinging through the Mayweather Boxing Club to show their support.

Mayweather faces off with WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana on May 3 inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a fight he is heavily favored in.

Catching up with former two-division champion Zab Judah right outside of the gym this past weekend, he expressed his belief that Mayweather will find a way to handle his rugged Argentinean foe.

“As long as Floyd comes in there and he’s still on his A game, I think it’s going to be another situation of another Floyd showdown,” Judah explained. “He’s going to come in there with great defense and great speed and great accuracy. I think Marcos Maidana, he’s too slow.”

Judah went on to add that he feels if Adrien Broner had been in better shape, he would have found a way to defeat Maidana in their matchup this past December in San Antonio.

Instead, Maidana ended up dropping Broner twice on his way to handing the brash former titlist his first loss as a professional in one of the year’s biggest upsets.

“Maidana did exactly what he had to do,” Judah said, reflecting back to the fight. “He got the opportunity and he took full advantage of it. This is boxing. This is what you’re supposed to do. You just have to credit him on doing what he had to do at the time. But I think him fighting Floyd, it’s a whole different situation.”

Asked what is the biggest difference Maidana will find in facing off with Mayweather as opposed to Broner, Judah was quick to answer.

“Defense,” Judah stated. “That’s the number one thing. I don’t care what you do in life, defense is the number one thing. The name of the game is to hit and not be hit. Punchers like Tyson, they spoiled the game. But us little guys, we’ve got to stick to the plan. The plan is to hit and not be hit.”

Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com

Larry Merchant: ‘Bradley is a tough matchup at this stage of Pacquiao’s great career’

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Boxing analyst Larry Merchant breaks down Pacquiao-Bradley II (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com / Chris Farina – Top Rank)

By Chris Robinson

Despite being a slight favorite heading into his rematch with Timothy Bradley, there are some who seem skeptical whether or not Manny Pacquiao will be able to have enough success in the match.

Pacquiao faces off with Bradley on April 12 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be looking for revenge over the Palm Springs native, who bested him via controversial split-decision in June of 2012.

Catching up with longtime boxing analyst Larry Merchant to discuss the fight, he seems to feel that Pacquiao has his work cut out for him.

“I think it’s a tough fight for [Pacquiao],” Merchant stated. “I think that he showed against Rios that he was able to fight a pure boxing style that we hadn’t seen before. He’s made various inventions and reinventions of himself. But I don’t think he’s going to outbox Bradley.

“I think the essence of the fight is [whether he can] stoke up the fire to get Bradley, who’s coming off a couple good wins after their first fight,” Merchant added. “But Manny’s impressive in the sense that he’s a veteran fighter who’s still going after it. He’s still not over satisfied but now he’s got to show that he can go back to an earlier version of himself to beat a guy like Bradley. I don’t think anybody’s too sure who’s going to win this fight.”

Merchant was asked what Freddie Roach might be thinking about the clash and Bradley in particular given he has already had a change to study him in action against his fighter.

“Freddie’s a realist and Freddie likes guys who go for it and I think he’s going to try to convince Manny that he’s got to revert to that great year he had when he stopped De La Hoya and Hatton and Cotto,” Merchant noted. “He hasn’t stopped anybody since but he’s got to be a positive force in the ring against a fighter like Bradley who has shown his versatility in his recent fights.

“Bradley is a tough matchup at this stage of Pacquiao’s great career,” Merchant said.

Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com