Timothy Bradley will defend his WBO welterweight title against Juan Manuel Marquez in what will be a huge bout for both sides.
These two fighters have a lot in common, most notably that they each defeated Manny Pacquiao in 2012. However, each person will look to continue building a legacy with another strong performance in this match.
While a loss could set either one back, a win could be another huge moment in a great career. Here is a look at what would happen for each boxer if they are able to come away victorious on Oct. 12.
Timothy Bradley
The biggest problem Bradley has had to deal with in his career is public perception. The talented fighter is 30-0 in his career and has won a couple of titles, but he is still not looked at as an elite boxer.
According to Sports Illustrated, Bradley is only the No. 11 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, behind not only Marquez but also Pacquiao. One would think Bradley's win over the Filipino star would boost his profile, but many disagreed with the decision in the first place.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated was one of many who blamed judge C.J. Ross:
As a result, Bradley has not gotten the credit he deserves as an undefeated champion. The rest of his resume—which features only a few quality wins like Ruslan Provodnikov and Joel Casamayor—does not help his case much.
However, Marquez is a respected name across the boxing world. The veteran is one of the top fighters of his generation, only dropping matches to Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in the past six years. His latest win proves that he still has the ability to do great things despite his age.
If Bradley is able to win this match, it will prove that he is truly one of the better fighters in the sport. He will vindicate his previous good performances and show the world that he is ready to be a star.
This could lead to a high-profile match against Mayweather or more big bouts.
Unfortunately, a loss would do exactly the opposite. Fans would continue to distrust his ability, and there is little chance he would be able to carry a pay-per-view ever again.
Juan Manuel Marquez
Unlike Bradley, Marquez has a lot less to lose in this match. He has already proven himself as one of the best there is and he will likely find himself in the Hall of Fame.
A loss would only show that he is past his prime at 40 years old, and that he should probably consider retirement.
On the other hand, a win could continue to extend his career for the time being. It could give him a rematch against either Pacquiao or Mayweather, either one of which would provide him with a lot more money.
Additionally, Marquez could win the welterweight belt with a victory, which would be a title in five different weight classes for the talented boxer. This statistic alone gives him the distinction of one of the best ever.
Although not many would put Marquez in this elite class, he is certainly worthy of being in the conversation. A win over Bradley would continue to prove this narrative.
According to Salvador Rodriguez of Boxing Scene, Marquez is considering retirement after this match. If this ends up being the last bout of his career, it would be a great opportunity to end things on top.
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