MOSLEY DOES HIS JOB, MARQUEZ QUITS
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LAS VEGAS, NV (IB-February 8, 2003) -  Fight fans expected a good fight. Some even thought Raul Marquez had a shot to upset Shane Mosley. And why not? Mosley was coming off two losses against Vernon Forrest and his confidence level was questionable.

Also, Latino fighters were on a roll with Ricardo Mayorga defeating Forrest last week and Antonio Margarito defeating Andrew Lewis earlier in the night.
So why wouldn’t Marquez follow suit?

Why? Because Marquez was not in the ring to fight, he was there to collect a paycheck.

It was obvious from the start that Marquez was not a game fighter, complaining to the referee like a little girl. Mexican fighters don’t complain. They accept what’s put in front of them and fight. The last Mexican fighter I saw complaining in the ring was Julio Chavez in his second fight against Oscar De La Hoya. And he ended up getting his butt kicked big time until he quit on the stool.

Quit is what Marquez did in this fight against Mosley. In the third round, after a clash of heads, Marquez turned, walked away shaking his head, raising his hands and waving the fight off.

Referee Kenny Bayless was nice to Marquez by calling an end to the fight due to an accidental head butt which resulted in the contest being ruled a no contest.

After the fight was officially over, Marquez pretended like he wanted the fight to continue… Too late, Raul. Everyone watching on TV already saw you quit.

Since there weren’t too many people in attendance, maybe Marquez thought no one saw him quit.

For about twenty seconds or so, it looked like we had a fight on our hands. Both fighters came out ready for action, fighting in close with both fighters looking very strategic, Marquez fighting for position as he tended to place his lead foot outside of Mosely’s. Mosley, meanwhile, would throw his punches then clinch in a defensive manner.

It was not long into the first round when it all changed. A clash of heads results in a cut over the right eye of Marquez. Marquez immediately complains to the referee and indicates the head butt was intentional.

In the second round, Marquez tried some rough housing himself, even throwing an elbow one time. The rough housing didn’t work as Mosley continued with his game plan of boxing and clinching. Now you start to see a worried and concerned look on the face of Marquez.

The third round, Marquez tried to fight, but being his rough plan of attack was not working against Mosley, he became more disheartened. Not being able or not willing to change his style of boxing Mosley, he quit, No Mas.

Marquez quit after a head butt in the third round left him with a cut above the left eye. After the third round head butt occurred, Marquez turned and walked away waving his hand and shaking his head, clearly indicating he had quit. With time still left in the round, referee Bayless walks toward Marquez as if to indicate to start fighting again, but Marquez waves his hands in refusal.

A short time for clarification takes place, then Bayless halts the fight due to the head butt, ending the contest.

An ugly end to a pathetic fight.

Moncayo Blackbull can be reached at blackbull@insideboxing.com