Former world champion in four weight categories Juan Manuel Marquez dissatisfied with the recent arrival of "outsiders" in big boxing. Bloggers, social media stars, retired NBA and NFL athletes are all trying to try their hand at boxing, and in recent years, fights and events related to them have constantly appeared.
The most successful of them is by far Youtube star Jake Paul (5-0, 4 KOs), who will face heavyweight prospect Hasim Rahman Jr. at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 6. The fight will take place in a paid broadcast on the Showtime TV channel.
Marquez believes that boxing was once considered such a dangerous sport that most parents forbade their children from doing it. He now feels that the sport is being treated with disrespect, and the growing number of non-boxers entering the ring creates the idea that anyone can enter the ring.
“It hurts boxing,” Marquez said. — I remember how someone asked the coach if he wanted his son to become a boxer, and the coach said no. Boxing is a difficult sport, but now everyone wants to be a boxer."
“I consider this attitude disrespectful. Boxing needs to be taken seriously. The fighter trains, prepares, the fighter leaves all of himself in the ring. It's not fair to have a blogger, former basketball player, or former NFL player fighting in the ring. Boxing deserves respect. This is not a game. When you fight, your life is at stake, and that's how respect for the sport is lost."
Marquez, 48, who retired a few years ago due to injuries plaguing him, hasn't fought since 2014. Last year, Marquez was going to fight in an exhibition fight with another retired world champion Miguel Cotto, but the fight did not take place in the end.
