Mayweather-Marquez

On May 2, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez set the boxing world abuzz with an announcement that they’d be meeting in the ring. It came just hours before the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight, and the sizzle regarding Mayweather’s return from retirement grew rapidly.

But Mayweather’s decision to trade jabs with Marquez was fascinating to many. While he could have fought a lower-caliber opponent to nearly ensure a victory and earnings, Floyd decided to meet Marquez in what will be a tough battle.

With the Sept. 19th clash approaching fast, Mayweather must train for the man who gave Pacquiao his toughest tests yet. Many believe that Marquez actually defeated “Pac-Man” in at least one of their two meetings, yet Pacquiao was awarded the victory in each fight. Although Mayweather and Pacquiao have never met, a decisive loss for “Pretty Boy” against Marquez might thwart his claim to be “No. 1.”

But Marquez, the self-described “numero uno,” has evolved in his fighting style and his persona over the years. Marquez has reinvented himself as an offensive fighter to improve his popularity with the audience.

HBO’s “Marquez Ring Battles” gives a glimpse into the fighting style and personality of just the fourth Mexican boxer to be world champion in different classes. Though he could not earn a victory in either bout with Pacquiao, a win over Mayweather would catapult Marquez to the unquestioned level of “numero uno.”