Juan Manuel Marquez defies his age once again, outpoints Alvardo and sets up a final Pacquiao showdown 10 years in the making

Future Hall Of Fame fighter Juan Manuel Marquez made his return to the ring this Saturday night at the Forum in Inglewood, California, as he took on the experienced Denver native, Mike Alvarado. Both men were on the comeback trail after suffering defeats late in 2013 — Marquez losing a decision to Timothy Bradley and Alvarado being stopped by Ruslan Provodnikov. This bout had looming prize awaiting the winner, as whoever emerged victorious would be the mandatory challenger for WBO welterweight champ, Manny Pacquiao.

Coming into the fight, Alvarado held a height and reach advantage over Marquez, and it was clear early that ‘Mile High’ was hesitant to be overly aggressive and play into Marquez’ counter punching style, choosing instead to stay on the outside and look to pick his shots from range. Marquez meanwhile worked quick and accurate combinations to the head and body, being much more effective in the early rounds.

The 40 year old Marquez showed no signs of aging, looking extremely sharp and explosive compared to his opponent. Alvarado was unable to impose his game on Marquez and took a consistent body assault.

Midway through the fight, there was a visible sing of desperation in Mike Alvarado’s corner, as they urged Alvarado to use his youth and attack the older Marquez. Mike did come out in round 7 with a little more aggression, but Marquez showed his superior craft and abilities by landing the more effective blows.

Late in round 8, Marquez had his brightest moment as he landed a powerful right hand — a shot reminiscent of the one that knocked Manny Pacquiao out in 2012 — and sent Alvarado crumbling to the floor. Mike Alvarado looked in real trouble but to his luck, the round ended after he got up from the knockdown.

Just as the fight was looking to be close to ending, Alvarado landed a flurry of shots up against the ropes in round 9 and sent Marquez to the ground — his first big moment of the fight. Despite the knockdown — as history has shown — Marquez just gets stronger and more dangerous after touching the canvas.

Both fighters came out in round 10 exchanging blows, neither backing down despite having been hurt moments earlier. A back and forth fight broke out, but Marquez was able to counter more effectively and get in the precise blows, and even stunned the bigger Alvarado late in the round.

After round 10, Mike Alvarado’s face was showing signs of wear, a deep cut beneath his left eye and swelling around the eyebrows showed who was inflicting the most damage. The Denver fighter was given clear instructions that a knockout was needed to be able to win the fight.

The final 2 rounds were thrilling, with both fighters looking to set the final stamp on the match. Surprisingly, neither man slowed much despite the high paced nature of the fight. As the fight went down the stretch, Juan Manuel Marquez came on top once more, showing superior class to that of Alvarado’s — doing enough to seal the fight in his favor.

The fight was competitive in a couple of rounds, but overall it was clear who the winner was. The judges read out their scores, 117-109, 117-109, 119-108, all in favor of ‘Dinamita’ Marquez.

With the win over Alvarado, Marquez has set the stage for a fifth and likely final match up with Manny Pacquiao — a fight that has been 10 years in the making, since the two fighters first squared off in March of 2004. Pacquiao is coming off an impressive rematch victory over Timothy Bradley and is looking for a measure of redemption against Marquez who definitively won their fourth fight by 6th KO.

Pacquiao through the years has become more of a boxer and less of a power puncher, as he has not scored a knockout in nearly 5 years, while Marquez has seemingly gotten stronger and more powerful as he has gotten older. The fifth fight will have high stakes for both men, as another KO loss for Pacquio will surely send him into retirement, while Marquez looks to make history by becoming the first Mexican fighter to win titles in five weight divisions.

Whether a fifth fight happens now is squarely on the shoulders of Juan Manuel Marquez, but seeing as a career high payday and possible history awaits the Mexican legend, he will more than likely take the fight, and hope to put one last exclamation point on the series and repeat the moment that shocked the whole boxing world.

One thing is clear after this Saturday night, and that is that while Juan Manuel Marquez is getting older, he is not showing it, as he looked sharp, quick. While Marquez still has some vulnerability with his chin, he worked over Mike Alvarado like a surgeon, and showed that at age 40 he is as good as he has ever been and is showing no signs that his legendary career is coming to an end.

10 thoughts on “Juan Manuel Marquez defies his age once again, outpoints Alvardo and sets up a final Pacquiao showdown 10 years in the making

  1. …But who is Alvarado?, lets be realistic in here, Mike is a quitter that is why he’s never been an elite fighter. Provo has destroyed him in his own backyard. Manny is not Mike and Marquez knows that very well. Mike drops him 2 times as far as i remember. Let Marquez enjoys his triumph and i do hope he will agree to fight Pacquiao next. He is chasing Manny all he’s life, who knows he will have that lucky punch again or it could be Manny’s payback that will end his career. Marquez is an oppurtunistic fighter, he will fight Manny if he’s guaranted 12 million$!..

    1. “If” Marquez had fought Pacquiao when he was offerred the fight before Rio’s he might have gotten his 10-15 million . Now I doubt if he’s offered more then maybe 6 million . After all Pacquiao’s the Champion again as it should be and who is Marquez ?

      Now Marquez is just an old fighter hoping to cash in , he should be happy with a couple million and get down on his knees and thank them after signing the contract .

  2. Props to JMM for beating Alvarado as expected. Mike is just not a class fighter and doesn’t belong to the elite level fighters like Manny is fighting recently. Actually JMM is slow on his feet as he was caught and knocked down by the slow moving Mike. If Mike had plenty of activity, it would have been a different story. Seems that Mike is picking his shots and could not launch more of his effective shots like the one that floored Juan. Anyway, base on my observation, the latest version of Hulk Juan will not be effective against the latest version of Pacman. As Juan observed and admitted, he saw the best Manny, the one who fought Tim Bradley. Contrary to some observers observation, JMM has aged and slowed down in this fight with Mike…

  3. No drug tests for this fight hence Marquez was juiced up like he was when he knocked Pacquiao out !

    With normal drug testing for Fight 5 Marquez will be like he was against Bradley, old looking and easily tired !

    And hopefully Pacquiao will seperate his head for the rest of his person .

  4. Fans will now be looking forward to PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ 5 after Marquez emerged as the winner over Alvarado convincingly. Both fighter has to prove their true self. For Marquez his kayoed punch that lay flat Pacquiao on his back is for real, and Pacquiao past supremacy over Marquez are for real too. Pacquiao facing Marquez for the 5th time to win is more to vindicate himself.. .

  5. Pacquiao shouldn’t fight this guy anymore. Marquez Has no intention of giving Pacquiao a rematch
    When he knock him out. This guy is such a sore loser and a cry baby. Pacquiao should fight the likes of
    Provobnicov or Floyd Mayweather. Marquez is a hypocrite and pretending not interested in fighting Pacquiao anymore. He will jump at the first opportunity to get the welterweight title from Pacquiao. Why make it easy for him to have a chance for the title?.
    Sincerely,
    Boy Win

    1. i do agree with your comment..eh Boy Win…. indeed, WHY should the PACMAN fight a person who is a RUNNER…. he keeps on running away from Manny Pacquiao…on their first fight, while Manny Pacquiao wants a rematch with the El Dinamita…however, where’s El Dinamita???….Juan Manuel Marquez had fight instead and even lost to an Indonesian…and yet JuanMa Marquez keeps on saying that he won in their 1st three fight….the nerve of this JuanMa Marquez….to think that he is a MEXICAN….SORRY Juan Manuel Marquez…but from what we understand that’s not HOW a Mexican warriors are…from what we understand Mexican warriors are not a coward as to what we construed you are doing right now…IN FACT, you are a disgrace to the Mexicans….eh, Juan Manuel Marquez….

  6. RIP Pacquiao. No way he survives a fifth Marquez fight

    Marquez is on another level

    1. oooh yeah… El Dinamita is on another level with the drugs given and being supplied by Angel Memo Herrera….

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