Mayweather fights rust;
Marquez drinks his own urine

By Al S. Mendoza

(Cheers to Melchor Co, the unfading top honcho of Ilocandia’s Honda Cars in San Nicolas, whose expert stewardship of Honda Cars Dagupan, has made him a legend in the motoring world!)

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ONE is unbeaten, the other an active champ.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired after a string of 39 straight wins.

He said he had no more worthy opponents that’s why he left boxing.

Now, he’s back.  And today, he will fight Juan Manuel Marquez in another catch weight bout.

Mayweather, a brassy American, was the welterweight champion (147 lb) when he hung up his gloves about two years ago.

Marquez, a durable Mexican in the mold of lucky to have survived Casamayor, the boxer they call “Dinamita” came back to destroy the much-ballyhooed Juan Diaz in 9 rounds only last February.

His record speaks for itself.

Like Manny Pacquiao, Marquez has also won six world titles; they came in three weight divisions (Pacquiao’s six titles though came in six weight classes).

With all those accomplishments, does that mean Marquez is much superior and will easily dispose of Mayweather?

I don’t think so.

Even though he had laid low for months, Mayweather could not be counted out just as easily.

When he retired, Mayweather was the owner of six world crowns in five weight divisions.

After winning the featherweight bronze in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Mayweather turned pro that same year. Three years later, at age 22, he won his first world title.

Mayweather went on to dominate boxing like no other in his generation, even beating the game’s poster boy, Oscar De La Hoya, to crown a glorious career that included an 84-6 record in his amateur days.

There is one chink in Mayweather’s armor, though:  Rust.

The long layoff could derail Mayweather’s shot at history and finally end his winning streak at Fight No. 40.

Thus, Mayweather’s date with destiny will hinge primarily on how much did he gain in his training.

He should be really in tip-top shape to neutralize Marquez’ punching power and tested stamina.

And, of course, Mayweather’s killer arsenal is his ability to dance, to box from a distance, to hit and run. His skill as a defensive specialist is legend.

So, finally, my fearless forecast?

If both Mayweather and Marquez are ready to rumble, Mayweather should be it.

Notwithstanding that Marquez, during training, drinks his own urine to supposedly add sting to his punches.

Can you believe that?

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