Sunday, February 02, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Marquez hands Medina sound beating

Wins on seventh-round TKO to earn vacant IBF featherweight title

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Juan Manuel Marquez, left, lands a hard left to the face of Manuel Medina, en route to a seventh-round TKO victory for the IBF featherweight title on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay. Photo by Amy Beth Bennett. Manuel Medina, left, absorbs the final punch from Juan Manuel Marquez, resulting in Marquez's seventh-round TKO victory on Saturday at Mandalay Bay. Photo by Amy Beth Bennett.

Manuel Medina has been a world champion on four occasions and was fighting in his 18th championship fight Saturday night.

But never in those fights had the classy Mexican been battered as he was by Juan Manuel Marquez, who stopped Medina at 1:18 of the seventh round to win the vacant IBF featherweight title at Mandalay Bay.

It was a belt Medina had held on three occasions, but he never had a chance against Marquez, whose 40th victory was his most impressive. He used a perfect left-right-left combination to floor Medina early in the second round.

Medina was on wobbly legs and needed all 17 years' worth of his experience to survive.

"I thought I was going to take him out in the (second) round, but like all Mexican fighters he's a great champion with tremendous heart," said Marquez, now 40-2.

The rangy Medina tried to use his reach to fend off Marquez, but Marquez was too strong and quick. He was able to duck inside and land short but powerful combinations.

Marquez came up short in the same ballroom three years earlier against Freddie Norwood for a world title, but wasn't going to be denied this time around.

"I've had nine years of struggling and working very hard to get to this point," Marquez said. "I finally got the opportunity to prove I have the goods. I have pretty much been dodged by a lot of fighters, but I took advantage of it when I got a chance.

"Medina is a brave fighter with a lot of heart. He took a lot of shots and wouldn't quit."

Marquez was easily leading on all three judges' cards, leading 59-54 according to Jerry Roth and Paul Smith and 58-55 on Stu Winston's card. The Review-Journal card favored Marquez, 60-53.

The fight was surprisingly one-sided and lifted Marquez' stature in one of boxing's deepest divisions. Among the top fighters in the division are Marco Antonio Barrera, whom many regard as the best 126-pounder, as well as Erik Morales and Paulie Ayala.

He proved with his near-shutout Saturday that he belongs in the same class as Barrera, Morales and Ayala. He clearly can see the dollar signs with the lucrative fights that can now be made.

"I'm very fortunate to be in a division with so many opponents who can make great fights," Marquez said. "I hope to go on and face these people because I believe in my heart I am the best featherweight in the world."

According to the CompuBox punch statistics, Medina threw and landed more punches. But Marquez's punches were the harder and crisper, and it was clear early that it would only be a matter of time before Marquez ended things.

Medina had a large reach advantage and it took Marquez a while to figure it out.

"He is a quirky opponent and his style is difficult," Marquez said. "It's not easy. I thought it would be over fairly soon, but he's a great champion and he kept battling."

Medina did not attend the post-fight news conference because he had difficulty supplying the required urine sample.

Nacho Huizar, who worked his corner, said Medina told him he couldn't recover from the first knockdown.