Marquez considers quitting after loss to Pacquiao

In the wake of Saturday's majority decision loss to Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez is considering taking a page out of Marvin Hagler's playbook.

The 38-year-old Mexican standout is contemplating retirement after once again failing to get the decision against Pacquiao.

Their first meeting at the MGM Grand Garden in 2004 resulted in a 12-round draw.

Their 2008 rematch at Mandalay Bay saw Pacquiao gain a 12-round split decision.

On Saturday, judge Glenn Trowbridge had Pacquiao, the reigning WBO welterweight champion, winning 116-112, and Dave Moretti had Pacquiao ahead, 115-113. Robert Hoyle had it even, 114-114.

"I need to sit down with my family and my team and make a decision whether to continue in this sport or retire," Marquez said after the fight. "Right now, I'm frustrated, very frustrated,"

In 1987, Hagler felt the same way after losing a split decision to Sugar Ray Leonard in their middleweight title fight at Caesars Palace. Hagler was so bitter about the decision, he retired from boxing and became an actor in Italy.

Marquez likely won't make movies, but he was struggling to determine how the judges could favor Pacquiao, and particularly Trowbridge's four-point margin.

"Honestly, I don't know if I could do any more to change the mind of the judges," Marquez said. "I really believe I need to drop him. But even if I did, they probably would pick him back up so he could win."

But how serious is Marquez about retiring? Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promoted the fight, doesn't believe a word of it.

"He's not going to retire," Arum said. "When it's all said and done, he's going to make between $9 (million) and $10 million. If he wants to do it again, we'll look to do it in May."

Freddie Roach, who trains Pacquiao, said he believes a fourth go-round is in order. A potential fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. might have to wait.

"He deserves a rematch before a fight with Mayweather," Roach said of Marquez (53-6-1). "This might have been the closest of the three fights. It certainly was as tight as the last two."

Roach said Pacquiao was suffering from cramps in his arches and calves during the fight, compromising his speed and agility. It might have diminished some of his power, as well.

"I'm not making excuses, Marquez fought a great fight," Roach said. "Manny fell into the old trap of moving too much to his left and walked right into the right. But I still thought Manny pulled it out in the last two rounds."

Pacquiao (54-3-2), who was sporting a bandage over his right eye after the fight, took only a couple of questions before leaving to perform a concert with his band at Mandalay Bay. He admitted that Marquez's style causes problems for him, but he still believed he was more aggressive and deserved the decision he got.

"It's not easy to fight Marquez," Pacquiao said. "He's a very good counter-puncher, and he always backs off and waits for me to create the action."

But big paydays aside, Marquez, who was guaranteed $5 million for his performance Saturday, isn't sure he wants to go through this again.

"Honestly, it's the result of this fight that has me considering retirement," Marquez said. "I prepared myself so hard. And everybody knows what happened. We beat him in the ring and in the audience. The people said, 'Yes we won.' Only three people didn't see it that way."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter @stevecarprj.