Juan Manuel Marquez, from Mexico, left, celebrates his win over Manny Pacquiao in their WBO world welterweight fight Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
LAS VEGAS—For now, fighting again is out of Juan Manuel Marquez’s mind.
Marquez would rather celebrate his smashing victory over Manny Pacquiao with his family, friends and countrymen in Mexico.
“This is one of my best victory absolutely,” said Marquez during the postfight conference. “Right now, I’m going to rest. I’m not thinking of the next fight.”
Marquez also absorbed punishment and needs to recover after the fourth bout with Pacquiao, who is projected to earn between $25 and $30 million.
“El Dinamita” finished with a bloody, and bruised nose and welts on his face. He also went down in the fifth round and was fighting for survival in the sixth round when he launched the right hand shot that knocked out Pacquiao with just a second left.
“I caught him off-guard,” said Marquez. “I knew that he’ll try to finish me off in the next three rounds, so I was ready.
“This victory is not only for me and my family, but for my country,” said Marquez, who postponed retirement last year for another crack at his two-time tormentor who beat him by the slimmest of margins.
“I’m very, very happy. Finally, the referee raised my hand and left no doubt who won,” said Marquez, who will probably receive between $8 million and 9 million.
With the win, Marquez is expected to command a bigger purse in his next fight, with the name of Tim Bradley, who upset Pacquiao with an stunning decision last June, being floated.
For now, however, all Marquez wants is to return to his country, where a hero’s welcome awaits him.