Juan Manuel Marquez reacts to the crowd after weighing in for a welterweight fight against Manny Pacquiao, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, in Las Vegas. Marquez will face Pacquiao in their fourth fight on Saturday. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
Mexican boxing legend Juan Manuel Marquez is eyeing one last fight before closing the curtains on a celebrated ring career.
The 41-year-old Marquez, who will be best remembered for knocking Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao out cold in their fourth meeting in 2012, has not fought since a unanimous decision win over Mike Alvarado on May 17 of last year.
The four-division world champion has been attempting to plunge back in action in the past year but has been slowed down by a lingering knee injury.
“I want to keep fighting, at least to have one more fight,” Marquez told boxingscene.com. “My family has asked me to leave boxing, but I want to do another fight – because I still feel good.”
Just like how he forced a draw against his longtime rival Pacquiao in their first fight despite being down four times in the opening round, don’t expect Marquez to hold back.
His fate, though, is in the hands of his doctors.
“The final decision will be made within a month, as that will be when the doctors will advise me if I can be well enough [to return to the ring] with respect to the injury that I have on my one knee, which I have treating for a while,” Marquez said. CC