HOUSTON, Texas—At first he relished the attention being showered upon him. Slowly but surely, however, Juan Manuel Marquez is finding out that being boxing’s current toast can be too taxing and demanding.
Especially in Mexico, where he’s being accorded demigod status owing to his phenomenal one-punch knockout of Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marquez met with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Friday to present him with the gloves he used in stopping Pacquiao senseless with a perfectly timed, well-placed right one second to go in that fateful round.
Originally slated to watch countryman Jorge Arce try to wrest the WBO super bantamweight from Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire here Sathurday night, Marquez begged off, telling Ricardo Jimenez of Top Rank that he wants to rest and spend time with his family back home.
Since arriving to a hero’s welcome in Mexico Wednesday, Marquez has been very busy according to reports, appearing in television shows, gracing functions and meeting with dignitaries .Something which he is unaccustomed to.
Mexican legendary trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, who has mentored Marquez since he was 13 years old, also failed to arrive to work Arce’s corner. Apparently, wherever Marquez goes, the 73-year-old Hall of Famer goes.
According to Angel Hernandez, the strength and conditioning coach of Marquez who was present at Arce’s corner, the 39-year-old will take a break from boxing and is likely to fight a lesser-light in June.
If Pacquiao gets a clean bill of health after extensive tests at Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum said he will try to arrange Pacquiao-Marquez 5 in September. /inquirer