Timothy Bradley Jr vs Juan Manuel Marquez

The meeting brought together two men who had recently beaten Manny Pacquiao, although only one of those victories had settled the argument. Juan Manuel Marquez had knocked Pacquiao unconscious with a single counter right hand, while Timothy Bradley’s disputed points win remained a grievance to much of the boxing public. At the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on October 12, 2013, Bradley sought both vindication and a successful defence of his WBO welterweight championship. Marquez, aged 40 and attempting to win a world title in a fifth weight division, entered with a record of 55 wins, six defeats and one draw. The unbeaten Bradley stood at 30 wins, weighed 146 pounds and was two years younger than the challenger, who scaled 144½.

Bradley had survived a punishing contest with Ruslan Provodnikov seven months earlier, but he showed no desire to repeat that performance. He began behind a quick left jab, moving laterally and refusing to remain in front of one of boxing’s most accomplished counter-punchers. Marquez advanced cautiously, his weight set for the right hand, but Bradley’s speed made the target difficult to locate. The opening rounds were measured rather than stirring. Bradley scored with the jab to head and body, occasionally adding a left hook, while Marquez waited for mistakes and answered with straight rights when the champion stayed within reach.

By the third and fourth rounds, the nature of the contest was established. Bradley was not trying to overpower Marquez. He was controlling distance, stepping in with single punches and leaving before the Mexican could organise a reply. Marquez landed the heavier blows when he found his range, particularly the right hand, but his work came in shorter passages. Bradley’s jab was the more persistent weapon, and his movement forced the challenger to reset his feet repeatedly. There were no knockdowns and little untidy work inside, for neither man wished to give up the space required for his own counter-punching.

The fifth supplied a brief piece of theatre when the two men beckoned and taunted one another near the close. Marquez moved forward to act upon the invitation, and Bradley struck him as he came, a small incident which reflected the champion’s sharper reactions. Marquez had better moments through the middle rounds, driving Bradley towards the ropes and landing occasional rights over the jab, but he could not hold him there. Whenever the challenger appeared ready to apply sustained pressure, Bradley turned away, changed direction or intercepted him with a left hook. The bout remained close, though it was being conducted more often at Bradley’s preferred speed and range.

Bradley strengthened his position from the seventh through the ninth. His jab reached Marquez before the challenger could release his counters, and he varied its target sufficiently to keep the older man from settling. Marquez continued to stalk, carrying his hands high and looking for the right hand followed by the left hook, but his feet could not consistently close the gap. He was dangerous whenever Bradley paused, yet the champion generally limited those exchanges to one or two punches before moving off. Marquez’s frustration became apparent as he followed rather than cut across the ring.

The tenth was more forceful. Marquez landed a firm right hand and briefly disturbed Bradley’s balance, only for the champion to answer with an overhand right that jarred the challenger. Marquez increased his urgency in the eleventh, pressing harder and finding the body, while Bradley’s output declined as he concentrated upon avoiding the larger blows. It was one of the challenger’s better periods and kept the decision uncertain entering the last round. Still, Marquez required Bradley to stand his ground, and the champion rarely obliged for long.

Marquez pursued throughout the twelfth, attempting to bring his superior power into play before time expired. In the closing seconds, he drove Bradley towards the ropes and attacked with both hands. Bradley answered under pressure and caught him with a short counter left hook. Marquez’s legs buckled, and he lurched backwards, though he remained upright and the final bell arrived before another attack could be mounted. It was the clearest moment of distress suffered by either man and gave Bradley a decisive finish to an otherwise closely argued contest.

Judges Patricia Morse Jarman and Glenn Feldman awarded Bradley the fight by scores of 116–112 and 115–113 respectively. Robert Hoyle preferred Marquez by 115–113, making Bradley the winner by split decision. The punch figures supported the narrow verdict rather than suggesting domination: Bradley landed 168 of 562 attempts, while Marquez connected with 153 of 455, although the challenger held an advantage in power punches. Marquez protested the result, but Bradley’s jab, footwork and greater command of distance had supplied the steadier work. The champion retained his unbeaten record and WBO title by boxing with discipline, denying Marquez the fixed target upon which his celebrated counter-punching depended.

I always rated Bradley because he could box, fight and recover when hurt. After the beating he took against Provodnikov, plenty expected Marquez to catch him clean. Bradley was too clever for that. He kept the bout at long range, used his jab and made Marquez reset his feet before he could counter.

Marquez remained dangerous, particularly with the right hand, but he spent too much time waiting. Bradley’s movement, timing and quicker single shots dictated the pattern, even if the exchanges were close.

I had Bradley winning. The split decision made it sound more debatable than it was. Marquez landed the heavier punches, but Bradley controlled the fight and deserved the verdict.