MEXICAN great Juan Manuel Marquez is considering retiring from the ring at the age of 41. The veteran last fought in April, defeating welterweight Mike Alvarado over 12 rounds. It was expected he would eventually clash with old rival Manny Pacquiao for a fifth time, but the warrior, in Las Vegas to watch Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana, may not fight again at all.
“Right now I need to take my time because it is a hard decision,” Marquez said in delicate English. “Maybe I’ll retire, maybe I’ll continue, but I need time, because it is a hard decision.”
Marquez, exuding toughness through an immaculate suit, is not sure how long it will take to come to a decision about his future.
“I don’t know, I tell you, it is a hard decision, maybe two months, I don’t know.
“[When I have made up my mind] I need to feel great about it. If I continue, I will choose the best option, because there are options for me. But if I retire it will be because it was the best option [overall].”
But Marquez had words of encouragement for British fighters Amir Khan and new IBF welterweight champion, Kell Brook.
“Kell Brook is a great champion and Amir Khan is a great champion,” said Marquez. “They’re both good fighters. Brook was great beating Shawn Porter but right now he has an injury, and he needs to take the time to recover.”
Marquez, who will go down in history as one of the best Mexican fighters of all-time, admitted he missed being in the ring.
“Being a boxer is my job, the ring is my place,” he said with a smile. “But, now, I need to take my time.”
