Marquez: Give me the belt, not money

HOLLYWOOD – It’s not all about the money for Juan Manuel Marquez.

Moments after Saturday’s fight and another bitter and unacceptable loss to Manny Pacquiao, the 38-year-old Mexican made it clear which was more important to him.

He was being handed some papers to sign, and it may have something to do with his purse, when Marquez told those in front of him to clear the table.

“Get that away from me,” Marquez, according to Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez, said.

“You can have the money. But give me the win,” added Marquez.

Jimenez, a former sports editor with La Opinion, said Marquez felt so bad after the fight because he felt he did everything that was needed for him to beat Pacquiao.

A lot of fight fans inside and outside the arena felt the same way too.

Jimenez said Marquez was asked about a fourth fight with Pacquiao.

“What for?” was the reply.

“If I can’t beat Pacquiao with this type of a performance then I will never beat him,” Marquez said.

During the post fight press conference, Marquez said he can no longer think of ways how to convince the judges that he can beat the Filipino champion.

“I did everything I could,” he told Jimenez.

Marquez was guaranteed $5 million for Saturday’s fight, and Bob Arum said it could get as high as $10 million all in. If they agree on a fourth fight, Marquez will be guaranteed $10 million.

Marquez said he will think about it because retirement is also an option.

Jimenez shared his personal opinion about the fight, and said he also felt for Marquez because he saw how hard the he trained for this fight.

Jimenez, the Mexican, said he honestly felt Marquez won this one. He said it’s pretty evident now that Pacquiao, after three fights, still can’t solve the puzzle.

“After 36 rounds he (Pacquiao) can’t figure him (Marquez) out. I think he never will,” he said.

He watched the fight closely from ringside, and said while Pacquiao initiated the exchange, it was Marquez who won the exchange.

“Manny hit him with a couple of right hooks but that was it,” he said.

Jimenez said he stayed close to Marquez during the entire camp, and what he saw in training he saw during the fight.

“That left was what Nacho (Beristain) was talking about all the time,” said Jimenez of the short uppercut that worked all night against Pacquiao.

Marquez, who moved up in weight to face Pacquiao, made sure he was the bigger fighter inside the ring. Not necessarily faster and stronger, but bigger.

Marquez weighed in at 142 pounds but climbed the ring at 150. Pacquiao weighed in at 143 and climbed the ring at 148.

“He can’t knock me out and he won’t knock me down this time,” Marquez said, according to Jimenez.

“We will go 12 rounds with this guy and we will beat him on points,” said the great Mexican counterpuncher.

Yes, he went 12 rounds with Pacquiao. But that’s as far as he could get.