I really enjoyed seeing my old friend Juan Manuel Marquez in London last week.

I have long admired Juan Manuel as a fighter but over the last two years he has become one of my very, very favourites.

I was pleasantly surprised by the enormous media turn-out that we saw in London for Floyd Mayweather. It was terrific that Floyd generated so much interest, but what was more confusing (for the boxing trade in particular), was the manner in which Mayweather's next opponent was treated.

Marquez: can walk the walk

Juan Manuel Marquez was totally overlooked by the mass attention that Floyd enjoyed. Now, if this was a Mike Tyson-Peter McNeeley case, then I might understand it.

Yet this is not a one-sided tale. Far from it. Yes, Floyd is returning to the fold - and we welcome that - but he is also coming back against arguably the finest fighter out there.

Manny Pacquiao has generally been seen as the pound-for-pound king in Floyd's absence, and while I wouldn't dispute the Pacman's claim after his sweet domination of Oscar De La Hoya, and his destruction of Ricky Hatton, there is someone else to consider when we mention that mythical phrase.

Juan Manuel Marquez is exceptional, and I am not afraid to admit that I am one of his biggest supporters.

Three weight champion

This ultra amiable, extremely intelligent ring technician is now a solid three weight world champion, and has to be regarded as one of the world's elite.

Yes, he's 35. Yes, he's not huge box office. Yes, he doesn't have a real ego.

What Juan Manuel possesses though is an ability to succeed. He has enjoyed (and at times endured) a long, hard career.

There have been ups, there have been downs, but Juan Manuel has fought through the good and bad times, to stand as an absolutely supreme boxer.

Few had heard of him years back when he was flitting around the featherweight scene, winning belts but not really winning fight fans.

Marquez's loss to southpaw Freddie Norwood was understandable. He was frustrated by a good fighter, and he didn't have the boxing knowledge and experience at the time to come through.

Still Marquez became a World Champion at nine stone, and even travelled to Indonesia to take on the excellent Chris John. That unusual match slipped under the radar; it was foul-filled and controversial, and for Marquez- a long, long way from home.

Unsurprisingly he wasn't given the decision.

Turning point

The real turning point came in March 2007. Jim Watt and I covered Marquez's clash with the brilliant Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas.

As in so many of his 55 fights, Marquez was the side issue. All the questions, all the attention revolved around the 'great' from Iztacalco in Mexico City, and not the former accountant and bit-part player, from a fairly similar middle class background, who lives just a stone's throw away from where Barrera grew up.

I have long been a huge admirer of The Baby-faced Assassin, but something struck me that week in the battle of the Mexicans.

Juan Manuel was engaging; he was communicative, he was endearing. So were his back-room team led by the terrific Nacho Beristain. Marquez glowed all the way through the final build-up. He looked awesome. It was as if he knew.

The 'Barrera' clash was fantastic and a high-class affair between excellent fighters, and Marquez deservedly won.

He also won Jim and me over that week, as well.

I just thought Juan Manuel Marquez was a pleasant and consummate professional but that night he gained our respect. It was about time - he had long been a decent, quality type.

There are no airs, no graces, no bravado, and certainly no trash-talking when it comes to Juan Manuel Marquez.

He is an astute reader of the game, and always has an interesting opinion on the world's most high profile fights.

I have been fortunate to have been around him a great deal in the last couple of years, even in his native Mexico.

Mexican memories

A real memory came a few weeks back, when I watched both Juan Manuel, and his hard-hitting brother Rafael working out together in a hot back street gym in Mexico City. It was a very special moment.

I know Glenn McCrory enjoyed some time in their gym too, and is a huge 'Marquez brothers' fan.

Juan Manuel is the outstanding late-bloomer who has gone from World featherweight to super- featherweight to lightweight King, after those tip-top displays against Barrera, Rocky Juarez, Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz.

All good things come to those who wait, and Juan Manuel Marquez has proved to be an exceptional attacking and defensive talent, whilst also showing himself to be a worthy warrior.

This was the guy who was knocked down three times in the first round against Manny Pacquiao. This was the fighter who picked himself up on three occasions in the first three minutes. Here lies a true, under-appreciated gladiator.

Boxing is all about opinions. My take on the Marquez- Pacquiao fight is that Juan Manuel emerged the real winner.

He fought back, against all possible odds, to draw their first encounter. He definitely won their second meeting, despite not getting the decision.

Yes, Pacquiao officially won, but I thought Marquez deserved to take the spoils, especially in their re-match.

What I like about this brainy boxer is that he doesn't let grapes become sour. He just knuckles down and gets on with the next assignment.

Juan Manuel is a family man but he removes himself from the attraction of his nearest and dearest (a hard, hard thing to do as I find out on my trans-Atlantic trips), and trains ferociously hard.

Determinded

Marquez is doggedly determined, runs high at altitude around dormant volcanoes in Mexico, and just tries to get the very best out of himself each and every time.

When I saw Juan Manuel in London, he hadn't changed at all. He knows the importance, and maybe even the severity of the Mayweather challenge. It is a really tough one.

Yet, I'll tell you something: whatever Floyd Mayweather has achieved - and I, for one, think he is the most brilliant fighter since Sugar Ray Leonard - don't count out Juan Manuel Marquez, anytime, anywhere.

The summer sizzler on 18 July suits Floyd Mayweather. It's his huge comeback from temporary exile, and he is expected to win. The 10st 3lbs weight limit helps the brilliant Grand Rapids technician too.

Juan Manuel Marquez is again an underdog, and rightfully so.

The proud Mexican who is carrying the torch now Messrs Barrera and Morales are all but gone is going to give his all.

I'm not sure he'll succeed this time. But I rate and admire Juan Manuel Marquez, almost as highly as any current boxer worldwide.

Write this wonderful warrior, and master craftsman off at your peril. 'Dinamita'- you have been brilliant for our sport.

Next week, I will be reporting back from Amir Khan's training camp in Hollywood. This is the big one for Khan, as he prepares to challenge the World Light-Welterweight Champion Andreas Kotelnik - who like Marquez is a very underrated and classy boxer.

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