Despite the fact that he was able to salvage a draw with Pacquiao, who had mastered Barrera and Morales twice in a row.

Realizing that only a victory over Pacquiao could elevate him to superstar status, Marquez agreed to stake his world title against the Filipino ring icon on March 15.

Marquez also agreed to a huge pay cut that would give him a meager 30 percent share of the purse and revenues to be generated from ticket sales and HBO pay-per-views of the megabuck bout slated at the Mandalay Bay and Casino in Las Vegas.

“I’ve always wanted to prove that I am better than Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales,” Marquez told David Avila of The Sweet Science. “I proved it against Barrera but Erik Morales never wanted to fight me.

“The people (Mexicans) followed Morales and Barrera because they had more experience. I was put in the back of the line.”

Now, at 34, Marquez wants to move in front at Pacquiao’s expense.

“I’ve been trying to demonstrate who I am,” said Marquez. “People will know me in Mexico when I beat Manny Pacquiao.”

By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer