KINUMPIRMA ni four-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez ng Mexico, ang numero unong karibal ni Pambansang Kamao ng Pilipinas na si Manny Pacquiao na pormal na siyang magreretiro sa boksing matapos ang mahabang karera na nagsimula noong Mayo 29, 1993.
Sa panayam ng ESPN Deportes, inamin ng 44-anyos na future Hall of Famer na marami nang pinsala ang kanyang katawan, lalo ang kanang tuhod kaya hindi na siya magbabalik sa ring.
Huling lumaban si Marquez noong Mayo 17, 2014 nang talunin si ex-world champion Mike Alvarado sa Inglewood, California sa United States. Itinuturing niyang pinakamalaking pagwawagi sa kanyang karera nang patulugin sa 6th round si Pacquiao noong Disyembre 8, 2012 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nagplano siyang bumalik ngayong taon matapos gumaling ang kanyang kanang tuhod pero nagkaroon na naman siya ng pinsala.
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
“Making this decision was difficult and hard for me, but somehow positive. We made it 15 days ago. I injured my biceps (left), I was training and I felt pretty good, I continued training with only the right hand. After a month, I started to train, sparring and then I suffered an illness.. cold, cough and I can not be cutting the workouts,” ani Marquez.
“That is why this decision is made. I am a fighter and I am a person and I am competitive and I like to be at my best and prepare myself at my very best - because physical integrity is the important thing, and this decision was then made,” diin ni Marquez.
Nagpasalamat din siya sa boxing fans na tumangkilik sa kanya sa mahabang panahon.
“The fans have been very important to me, we have to thank them for all of the support they have given me and I have to say that it hurts me to end this, but everything has a beginning and an end, and you have to accept it, good or bad, with pain in my soul and in my heart...you have to listen when the body begins to grumble and things like illnesses and injuries happen. You have to know when to listen and it is the precise moment to say goodbye,” dagdag ni Marquez. - Gilbert Espeña
