Whether you agreed with the decision in last week's Juan Manuel Marquez-Marco Antonio Barrera classic or not - those at ringside seemed to side with the judges, those watching on television seemed to not - one point cannot be denied. Marquez, once the Black Sheep of the 126 and 130-pound divisions, has finally arrived.

It's been a long, hard road for the Mexico City native, who shot up the ranks quickly after turning pro in 1993 before stalling because of managerial issues. But he kept plugging away, won a couple of world championships and endured a few heartbreaking setbacks. But now, with a considerable amount of determination, he is on top of the boxing world. Which means his future will be one of speculation and anticipation in coming weeks.
Time for a Juan Manuel Marquez hit list.
 
1.Manny Pacquiao: Really, is there any other fight for Marquez? This is the one, especially in light of the pair's 2004 slugfest in which Juan Manuel salvaged a draw - even after being dropped three times in the first round. But, in climbing off the deck, Marquez proceeded to issue the overanxious "Pac-Man" a boxing lesson, using his fine boxing skills - the skills he used last week against Barrera - to disrupt Pacquiao's constant forward momentum.

Besides being an entertaining war, the fight featured a fair amount of controversy. One judge failed to award Pacquiao the standard 10-6 round, after Pac-Man produced the three, first round knockdowns. Had the round been scored properly, the Filipino fireplug would have won a split decision. Instead, Pacquaio got a 10-7 round, and, a debated draw. There were also murmers afterward that Pacquiao had sustained a calf injury in training,
which hampered his ability to move effectively.

Regardless, it appeared that, after the first-round hailstorm, Marquez figured Pacquiao out. You have to wonder what kind of game plan Juan Manuel would employ in a rematch. And how Manny would counterattack that game plan.

Of course, for this fight to happen, several poltical hurdles must be cleared. And Pacquiao must get by anothoer Mexican, Jorge Solis, April 14 in San Antonio. Solis is undefeated, but unproven. Pacquiao should dominate. Hopefully, paving the way for Pacquiao-Marquez 2.


Odds: Pacquiao, 2-1. Pick: No pick (yet).
 
2.Marco Antonio Barrera: If Marquez-Pacquiao 2 doesn't develop, this rematch ain't a bad substitute. Their memorable duel conjured up memories of another St. Patrick's Day showdown, between Julio Cesar Chavez and Meldrick Taylor in 1990. The pace was excruciating, the skill-level was elite and there was even some controversy, after Barrera dropped Marquez in the seventh round and then nailed him while he sat on the canvas. (Referee Jay Nady's bumbling of the proceedings that followed was remarkably inept, even for him). Bottom line, it appeared as though the fight was much closer than the judges at ringside eventually determined. Even so, Marquez seemed to land the harder, more telling blows throughout the fight. You wouldn't know it afterward, as his face looked like it had been through a meat-grinder. But that underlined his toughness.
Barrera is tough in rematches. He beat Erik Morales twice after losing their original war in 2000. He came back strong against Rocky Juarez after struggling in their first encounter. And, even as far back as 1997, he performed well in the rematch with Junior Jones, though he ultimately lost a decision. At 33, however, it's hard to imagine Marco Antonio fighting any better than he did on March 17. The sand seems to be running out of the hourglass for the "Baby-Faced Assassin." But, then again, Marquez is 33, too. And he endured the same, brutal 12 rounds that Barrera did. A rematch would settle the issue as who is the better fighter, once and for all.
Odds: Marquez, 2-1. Pick: Marquez W 12 (s).
 
3.Erik Morales. Okay, Morales is washed up. We all know that. His spectacular loss at the hands of Pacquiao last November emphasized just how far down "El Terrible" has fallen from his championship prime. However, Morales isn't quite ready to hang up his gloves, and what better way to go out than in another showdown with a great Mexican counterpart? It might also be argued that Morales simply ran out of ways to beat Pacquiao - an attacking, whirlwind of an opponent who punches like a ton of bricks. Marquez presents a decidedly different proposition, one that the 2007 version of Morales may find more accomodating. Marquez is more workmanlike and calculating than Pacquiao. And he does get hit. So, before he eventually went down, Morales would surely get in his licks. Like Pacquiao-Morales 2 and 3, it would be fun while it lasted. But, in all honesty, Erik doesn't stand a chance. All the wars, all the dramas, have taken a toll on his strong body.
Odds: Marquez, 4-1. Pick: Marquez KO 5.
 
4.Humberto Soto. Out with the old, in with the new? Soto, while mostly unproven against top competition, elicits memories of Barrera, Morales and Marquez in their primes. He's Mexican, he's a tireless worker, and he punches very, very hard. He's big for a 130-pounder, as evidenced by his decision over Rocky Juarez in 2005. And he's constant forward motion, kind of like a junior lightweight version of Antonio Margarito. How would his fresh attack - he's just 26 years old - stack up against the experienced brilliance of Marquez, who is one of the tactical greats of the sport? Right now, it appears that a top-notch Marquez would be too much for Soto. But you never know. Soto is a live underdog in the truest sense of the word. And one punch can change a fight. His knockout of the inferior Humberto Toledo last month was vicious. He's 41-5-2 (25 KOs), and expected to fight Bobby Pacquiao in June. He wins that, and Marquez-Soto could soon be a reality. Right now, go with Marquez. But, in another six months, things may change.
Odds: Marquez 3-1. Pick: Marquez W 12 (u).
 
5.Joan Guzman. "El Pequeno Tyson" is 27-0 (17 KOs), and, judging by his September decision over Jorge Barrios, is the real deal. He's not always a pleasure to watch - he plays to the crowd, often arm-punches and sometimes appears overanxious - but he is obviously the real deal. He possesses tremendous athleticism, a truck-load of stamina and, as evidenced against Barrios, a pretty good chin. And, he's never been beaten, which will make him very difficult to overcome. Because of his herky-jerky, unpredictable style and quickness, the pride of the Dominican Republic presents a formidable challenge for anybody, including Marquez. Guzman is a well-preserved 30 years old, and appears strong as an ox. Styles make fights, and Guzman has the style to give the elite serious trouble, whether it's right now or a year from now. Go with Marquez, but don't bet the mortgage on it. Guzman is a player, and will be a player for years to come.
Odds: Marquez 2-1. Pick: Guzman W 12 (s).
 
6.Edwin Valero. Valero, 21-0 (21 KOs), is in the mold of great powerpunchers of the past: John "The Beast" Mugabi, Wilfredo Gomez, Gerry Cooney, even Mike Tyson. He comes to fight, and he comes to knock you're freakin' block off - as evidenced by his phenomenal 19 first-round knockouts. He's got power, and he's got talent - no doubt. But, right now, he's a question mark because the level of his opposition has been rather ordinary. Fighters like Whyber Garcia and Michael Lozada aren't bad - but they're not Barrera, Pacquiao or Marquez, either. Valero has some ways to go before he proves himself against 'A' list opponents. Valero struggled with Vicente Mosquera in August, and still has some growing to do. But he could potentially be the most dangerous opponent to Marquez.
Odds: Marquez 3-1. Pick: Marquez KO 8.
 
7.Chris John. John's the guy who beat Marquez by unanimous decision last March in his native Indonesia. At the time, you wondered if perhaps Marquez began feeling the effects of a long, punishing career. Especially when you considered the wide scores in favor of John. But, in retrospect, you have to wonder if there was some home cookin' going on. Because Marquez is far from faded - or even fading. He may well be in the prime of his career. John is obviously a worthy challenge - he's reportedly a fine boxer, and an intelligent fighter. Which is why Marquez-John 2 would probably be appropriate from a boxing fan's perspective - though John would likely have to move up from his perch at 126 pounds to do it. From Marquez' perspective, a rematch with John makes almost no sense, however. The money is nonexistent, probably because of John's dull stick-and-move style, and why mess with a difficult challenger who has beaten you once when you don't have to? Especially when more lucrative fights with Pacquiao and Barrera are imminent. Right now, the fight's probably pick'em. But it probably will never happen.
Odds: even. Pick: Marquez W 12 (s).

M

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