With Juan Manuel Marquez's long awaited third fight against rival Manny Pacquiao (53-3, 38KOs) scheduled for November, many including promoter Bob Arum, view his tune up tomorrow night at the the Plaza de Toros in Cancun, Mexico against Colombian Likar Ramos (24-3, 18KOs) as an unnecessary risk.
If all goes according to plan, Marquez (52-5, 38KOs) will have gained the requisite weight for his light welterweight bout with Colombian Likar Ramos without ill effect to his performance.
Marquez and Top Rank are hoping he will outbox and counter his little-known foe and might even convert few doubters into believing that he can give WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao a run for his money in November.
If he struggles with Ramos though, looks uncomfortable at the weight, seems slower than usual, eats too many punches or looks to be lacking power, many will write off his chances against Pacquiao altogether, and probably rightly so.
Pacquiao is a more difficult opponent, at a weight even further away from Marquez's optimal fighting weight, and if Marquez looks to be slowing down due to age tomorrow night, he will only be that bit older in November.
Furthermore the fewer pay per views he and Pacquiao sell, the less money he will make in what many are predicting might be his last big fight before retirement.
Nevertheless the risk was one that Marquez was probably right to take.
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