Boxing Video: Retro Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

*Written by Stoker. From July 2, 2009 for tosports.ca

In popular culture, the Mexican standoff is often portrayed as two or more gunslingers with their weapons aimed at one another.

Neither will surrender or lower their weapon by any means except death—as that would mean defeat; and losing a battle, no matter what the odds, is an admission that most Mexicans would rather die than take part in.

The term “Mexican standoff”—when taken literally—is also a brilliant example of the legendary heart and never-say-die attitude of some of boxing’s greatest warriors.

The current 'The Ring' lightweight champion is Juan Manuel Marquez.

Born Aug. 23, 1973 in Mexico City, Marquez is the fourth boxer from that heritage to become a world champion in three different weight classes.

Marco Antonio Barrera, Érik Morales, and Julio César Chávez are the other fighters for whom Marquez now carries the torch, and you can be certain that he intends to carry it proudly.

As proud boxers go, Marquez is one of the proudest and rightfully so. His record speaks for itself.

Since his pro debut in May of 1993, Marquez, at 50-4-1 with 37 KOs has won multiple titles in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. Needless to say, he not only 'talks the talk' he also knows how to 'walk the walk.'

The 35-year-old Marquez is now poised to possibly put a bold and final exclamation mark on his long and stellar career.

On Sept. 19, 2009, he will face the recently returned villain of boxing, the former undefeated No. 1 pound-for-pound welterweight champion, Michigan’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.

If there ever was a man who was born to be a fighter, it’s “Pretty Boy” Floyd.

PBF hails from a family of fighters. All being excellent pugilists in their own right, they have long-ago made a name for themselves in the sport. As a result the name Mayweather has, since the 80's, become synonymous with boxing excellence.

An indelible legacy awaits Mayweather Jr. for sure—but this might be his toughest test. It's not a one-sided tale by any means.

The man he will face in September, Marquez, is an ultra-amiable and extremely-intelligent-ring-technician, one who cannot be ignored as being among the world’s most elite boxers.

The noticeable turning point—for me—in Marquez’s career came when he went head-to-head with fellow countryman Barrera in Las Vegas.

As is usually the rule, Marquez was not the focus in this battle either. The attention seemed to revolve around the great Barrera from Iztacalco in Mexico City, which ironically, is just a stone’s throw from where Marquez himself grew up.

Marquez was led by the terrific trainer Nacho Beristain, and during the ring walk he seemed to glow with confidence. He looked awesome. It was as if he knew.

The Barrera clash was a fantastic and high-class boxing affair between excellent fighters and Marquez deservedly won.

There are no airs, no graces, no bravado, and certainly no trash-talking when it comes to Marquez; he is clearly not a ticket-selling-hype-machine.

That job may be delegated to Mayweather, he's the man who has become the hated villain in this Mexican standoff.

In all seriousness, Mayweather is undoubtedly one of the greatest defensive prizefighters of all time.

Resembling the great Pernell Whitaker, Sugar Ray Leonard, or perhaps the greatest heavyweight of all time, Muhammad Ali, Pretty-Boy-Mayweather is almost as impossible to catch with a clean shot as a common housefly.

However, he may have made the biggest mistake of his career by choosing to comeback against the current lightweight champion, as Marquez won't quit, won't surrender. Nor will he lay down his weapons for anyone, anytime or anywhere.

Marquez will be first on Pretty Boy Floyd's hit list, but ultimately, we all know full-well why he is returning.

It's to claim what he feels is rightfully his, the No.1 Pound-for-Pound status.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao—who has generally been seen as the Pound-for-Pound king in Floyd’s absence—is the real reason that Floyd has returned to the fold.

However, in this writer’s opinion, Mayweather ought to be extremely careful not to trip and fall while ascending the narrow stairway to get to Pacman.

Remember, Marquez is the guy who was knocked down three times in the first round against Pacquiao.

Marquez is the fighter who picked himself up on three occasions in the first three minutes. And the guy who fought back against all possible odds to be awarded a draw in their first encounter.

It’s also many people’s opinion, including mine, that Marquez won their second meeting despite not getting the decision against Pacman.

Herein lies a truly under-appreciated and perhaps highly-overlooked gladiator.

Let's hope Mayweather remembers these things before he steps in the ring this coming September.

“Brave men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.”

—Seneca, Spanish-born philosopher and Roman Statesman

The Death of Sonny Liston: Gone on the Night Train

Former Heavyweight Champion Charles L. "Sonny" Liston, whose record was an incredible 50, 4, with 39 by way of knockout, was nicknamed 'The Big Bear.' He stood 6 feet 1, and had an 84 inch reach and was one of the hardest punchers in the history of combat sports.

Supposedly, Liston was born in 1932 at a location known as Sand Slough, Arkansas—although many experts claim that Liston himself didn't truly know exactly when he was born nor how old he actually was.

Liston learned his trade, the great sport of boxing, while serving five years in Missouri State Penitentiary—one of the toughest of America’s prisons. The young Liston then went on to become one of the greatest of all time chalking-up two huge knockout wins (video below) over the dominant heavyweight champion at that time, Floyd Patterson.

Ironically, if Liston's birth was a mystery, then his death was even more-so. 'The Bear' died as he had lived, under an umbrella of controversy and suspicion.

Liston's very next fight was supposed to be against Toronto Ontario, Canada's brutal slugger, George Chuvalo. Unfortunately however, the potentially classic match never happened.

On December 30, 1970, in Las Vegas, Liston's wife Geraldine arrived home early from a shopping trip, and entered the master bedroom after smelling something rotting.

The woman was shocked to find her Husband, Liston, slumped over against the bed, a broken foot stool at his side, dead.

A subsequent autopsy, along with the findings of the Las Vegas police, first concluded that Liston had overdosed—due to traces of morphine and codeine found in his body post-mortem.

In the end, however, the results were deemed inconclusive, and Liston's death was officially listed as due to cardiac arrest.

Now, 32 years later, the talk of mafia connections, police-cover-ups, and scandals are still going on.

Liston however, is bothered by none of it.

He lies peacefully in Vegas.

Paradise Memorial Gardens cemetery is Liston's final resting place—under a headstone that says, simply, "A Man."

Liston's favorite song was 'Night Train.' I will dedicate to him now.

'RIP' Sonny.

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