Marquez embraces challenge

The magnitude of the task is not lost on Juan Manuel Marquez.

If he can beat undefeated six-time world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden in Mayweather's return from a 21-month layoff, Marquez would go from boxing star to icon in his native Mexico.

"It would be unbelievable," Marquez said. "It would change my life forever."

The 36-year-old Marquez (50-4-1 with 37 knockouts) will make $4 million Saturday, the largest purse of his career.

A win over Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) would set up other big fights, potentially a third meeting with Manny Pacquiao. Marquez fought Pacquiao to a draw in May 2004 and lost a controversial 12-round split decision to the Filipino fighter in March 2008.

"Yes, that would be possible, but right now, my mind is on Mayweather," said Marquez, a 4-1 underdog who wisely refuses to look past Saturday. "This is going to be my toughest fight ever. It's going to be a very difficult fight."

Marquez has never fought above 135 pounds. On Saturday, he will be around 143 or 144 pounds as he debuts as a welterweight.

Some fans have expressed concerns that the added bulk will compromise Marquez's speed.

"I'm just as fast as before, and I am stronger than before," Marquez said. "(Speed) is not an issue for me."

His trainer, Nacho Beristain, agrees.

"There's always a concern when you're bulking up in weight and working and training that you're going to lose a little bit of speed," Beristain said. "But no, on the contrary, I'm very happy to say that Juan has been acquiring much more speed than in fights in the past. Everything's coming together, and I'm very happy how things are coming along."

Marquez has resorted to some unconventional methods to prepare. He has been carrying boulders and breaking them to build strength. Then there is the twice-daily habit of drinking his urine. Marquez said it is to replace the nutrients in his body.

"I've done it my past few fights," Marquez said. "I'm used to it by now."

When asked what his urine tastes like, Marquez said: "In the morning, it's OK. At night, not so good."

But Marquez knows it will take unorthodox training methods to defeat Mayweather, who is widely regarded as the best defensive fighter of his generation and who is motivated not only to remain undefeated and cement his legacy but to prove he hasn't lost his edge after nearly two years away from boxing.

"I have to use my intelligence and a lot of skill," Marquez said. "You've got to have a lot of movement when you fight someone like Mayweather. You have to bob and weave and bend and make him miss and counter him and wait for the right moment to pick your shots.

"He is much more difficult to fight than Pacquiao. He's very fast. He's very elusive and also a very defensive fighter."

Of course, if Marquez is successful, he secures his own legacy as one of Mexico's greatest boxers.

He is dedicating the fight to his countrymen, who have supported him in unprecedented fashion for this challenge.

Marquez has enjoyed the trappings that come with being put on the big stage. He has been at Azteca Stadium to attend the Mexico soccer team's World Cup qualifying matches as a guest of the team and has picked up more corporate sponsors than ever.

"When I was a young boy starting in boxing, I dreamed of one day getting an opportunity like this," Marquez said. "The money, obviously, it's a good thing. I think it reflects the sacrifice and hard work having paid off.

"But I'm not thinking about money right now. I want to fight the best fight possible, and hopefully I am successful and it will be the greatest night of my life."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.