Those details about the fighters' lives make us care that much more about their struggle. For Horgan, 24/7 reinstilled in him the boxing bug that grabbed him at age 16.
The Boy Is Back, At Least For This Fight
By Dan Horgan
When I was 16, a fun afternoon for me would consist of scouring the web for information about my favorite boxers. There was nothing more awesome than discovering what Roy Jones Jr. ate on a daily basis or how many miles Marco Antonio Barrera ran in preparation for his biggest fights. I may not have been getting girls at the time, but I sure as hell knew more about my favorite fighters than anyone else did, and the obscure information I came across made big-time fights all the more special.
Now 19 and in college, I’m no longer an Internet boxing nerd, and the minute details of fighters’ lives are no longer important to me. I’ve turned into a casual boxing fan, watching only the biggest fights and just occasionally checking the internet for sweet science updates. The 16-year-old me would probably roll his eyes at my current interest in the sport, just like I roll my eyes now at how crazy I was about boxing at 16.
But this past week while watching HBO’s “Mayweather/Marquez 24/7” – a documentary series which gives viewers an all-access pass to the lives of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez as they train for their September 19th welterweight fight – I was reminded of why I was so obsessed with boxing a few years ago. And I’m beginning to think 16-year-old Dan Horgan has a better reason for rolling his eyes.
24/7, which was launched in 2007 when Mayweather prepared to do battle with superstar Oscar De La Hoya, is one the best shows I’ve ever seen. The series is so well done, in fact, that I can’t think of any better way to get amped for fights. Following world-class pugilists’ training camps both in and out the gym is a brilliant concept that HBO has turned into fantastic programming for even non-fight fans. And the show is slowly bringing back my boyish admiration for boxing.
This past week’s episode focused heavily on Marquez, whose training techniques differ greatly from most fighters’. To gain strength, the Mexican climbs a local mountain and tosses heavy rocks into the thin air. To recuperate, he drinks up to 25 quail eggs at a time, and he even consumes his own urine, which he says puts nutrients back into his body.
As I watched Marquez slowly down his body’s excrements, I cringed. But as I saw him raise his fist proudly when he finished, my disgust with Marquez turned to disgust with myself: I remembered why the small details of fighters’ lives used to mean so much to me, and I couldn’t believe I had ever forgot.
Boxers’ personal minutiae make them and their struggle more relatable. We all have our own battles, and we’re all looking for an edge to prevail over our problems, so it’s only natural to draw inspiration from fierce warriors such as Marquez. Marquez drinking his own urine may be odd and disgusting, but it’s one of the details that sets him apart from other pugs – and one of the details I would have eaten up three years ago. The triumphant lift of his fist was a symbol of the joy that overcoming these daily battles can bring.
I wasn’t some crazed fan boy when I was 16; I was someone who saw the beautiful human element in boxing – the element of struggle and triumph. I realized that like fighters, it’s the little things that get us normal people through our own battles every day. And the little things are what make us unique.
So thanks to HBO, the boy in me is, at least for this fight, back. As I watch each episode of 24/7, I learn more about the little nuances that Marquez and Mayweather tick. And like it did when I was 16, knowing obscure details about each fighter will make fight night all the more special. The only difference now is that I’ll (hopefully) be watching the fight with a few hot chicks.
romeo:
young man , you are the future of sweet science on letters and pen , keep on , thank you
Friday Sep 11, 2009 01:52:43 PM
don joser:
ha ha... good article.... i use to be the same when i was a youngster... but the 24/7 and all other boxing related videos are good in adding like you said, "inspiration" to our every day life......
Friday Sep 11, 2009 04:50:09 PM
Big Al:
I didn't like that he guzzled his own urine. That was nasty. I'd have puked it all back up. JMM will beat Floyd. Too tough and too good.
Friday Sep 11, 2009 05:22:23 PM
Edgar A de Dios:
Contrasting styles make good battle in the ring. Their styles are almost similar, basically counterpunchers; so it will not bring out the best from the two. The product, therefore, is not a good fight. It may even be boring at most.
I expect a lean crowd for this fight, so, with the PPV. The two should not have been matched in the ring, in the first place.
Friday Sep 11, 2009 06:10:49 PM
Radam G, a most humble PacManite:
Nice piece, Fightwriter D-H, I can respect it. You even called yourself an "Internet boxing 'nerd.'" No harm done. But a reader in this Universe got deeply sensitive to me -- like you -- for playfully using the word "nerd." Geezzzz! You would thing I used the N-word of something by his reaction. What I am saying is that hypersensitive people should relax, loosen up. Like it is said in boxing, "Be loosey goosey!" I respect every athlete, or any person, for whatever poison he uses. To each his own. With all that said, I'm not convinced that Marquez drinked his own urine. I see HBO humbuggery and jabberwocky written all over this to help get butts in front of those PPV screens and the Big Screens. And for haters, I have my rights to believe anything that I want to, just as you have your rights. Bring in a forensic scientist to tell one the dangers of drinking urine, or using it period! The purpose of urinating is to get rid of toxins and waste that the body doesn't need -- has rejected. Why put something back in your body that it has urinated out -- processed and weakened. Urine is used to speed up the healing of cuts. It is even sneaky used in the corners -- been secretly done forever. It will clot a cut -- stop the bleeding quickly and surely. This is one of the old tricks of the boxing trade. Nonetheless, some things should be secret about a boxer's routine, and x-rated for the seeing of a television audience. Some weak-minded kid is going to start drinking his pee pee somewhere in the USA and is going to get a severe reaction or STD. After all, those is myths that if ones urinate after sex he/her will not get a sexual transmitted disease. Drinking urine is a long-time myth in martial arts. That it is able to give you an edge or more power or mad endurance, What a straight-up myth for the naive and weak minded, just as much as ninja warrior disappearing into thin air, flying through the sky like eagles and pulling people's hearts out with their bare hands. Holla!
Friday Sep 11, 2009 06:26:54 PM
Salt lover@ Dan Horgan:
Hehehehehe, pretty good comment there, Han. I also was 16 few years ago, and I also had a never-satisfied passion for boxing inside me, and proudly I still do. I just didn't had internet as so easy and often as I have it now, but definitely was always on the news. Yeah, I see what you're saying the great feeling we get when we watch these sorts of things. When Felix Trinidad was a very well-known super star I used to tape in VHS, all the pre-fight videos on HBO and I used to see them, and I got all the goosebumps in me, because HBO does a tremendous job mixing images with it's unique music score, and Jim Lampley on the side screaming his past commenting fights. And even as I grown and more mature, I still have the same feeling when I see these great videos, especially in the part where 24/7 is ending; they end it with a high drama score that really fires me up very well. Nice writings man. Keep up the good job here in TSS.
Friday Sep 11, 2009 07:52:39 PM
Isaiah:
Nice article. I don't expect Marquez to win this, but the man is highly skilled and tough as nails. That's why it's going to take until the later rounds for the naturally larger Mayweather to KO him, but sadly, it WILL happen. Mayweather wins by 11th round KO. Hmm, let's see. Mayweather began his career at Jr. Lightweight in 1998 and Marquez just fought at Jr. Lightweight against Pacquiao last year! So to recap, Marquez had his last fight at that weight in 2008 and Mayweather has been a Welterweight since 2005. Yey... REAL FAIR!
Friday Sep 11, 2009 09:38:42 PM
Fistic Fury:
Wow I didn't think Horgan was that young, he writes with maturity beyond his years. Although I am a litte disappointed to find out that a writer here on the best boxing site around is a 'casual fan' * Shakes head and tuts in disgust.* Also if I could attain the assistance of a boxing boffin, does anyone know if there is any truth in Floyds claims that he invented 24/7??? I must admit I do doubt it...
Friday Sep 11, 2009 11:41:22 PM
jumpmanjet643:
Great article,Its men like Marquez who remind us why we love this sport.
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 12:58:09 AM
Frank Z:
Horgan, beautiful piece. also, just tell those ladies that it's two guys ripped like those dudes from 300 figuring out new and creative ways to pummel each other. you got this bro.
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 08:13:08 AM
FightFanWest:
Radam you're wrong. JMM did drink his own urine, and he did it for the vitamin intake. Like he said, why waste it? This was no jabberwacky, it was REAL. Just admit that Juan Manuel Marquez is too much for Floyd, regardless of size. JMM is going to beat down the powder punching Floyd, we all know it. Roger Mayweather disrespected Pacquiao, said he's a bum. I was shocked and can't believe you're not insulted by that madness. JMM will beat Floyd to a pulp, and I'll be celebrating in style after it happens.
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 08:29:07 AM
MisterLee watching 24/7:
Mayweather's hands dont' look as sharp as they used to, lost some speed, his shoulders are kinda tight, he's not a finely tuned sports car any more. More like a camry or corolla. We shall see, he'll probably still win, but he's def. not the same athlete, just like jordan in his comeback did more posting and fadeaways vs. driving and dunking or crazy lay ups. Or ali in his comeback losing some of his physical gifts and compensating with other strategies. Pc!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 12:58:51 PM
Radam G, a humble PacManite winning @ da Blackjack table waiting 4 2nite bouts :
You could be right about it being for real, FFW. I personally don't believe it, and it is not healthy. Piss coming out of the body cannot stop sexual transmitted disease. You know the myths about that one. Pee pee is body waste that have benefits for cuts. It will clean and clot them. But it has no benefits for redrinking, and has toxic, weakened-fungus-full vitmains, if any. Don't you know how many people have been trapped at sea and other places without water? They drank their pee pee too, but died quicker because of it. If Marquez is drinking pee pee, the benefits that he is having are placebo effects. And Money May is going to whup that placebo effects out of his piss-drinking arse. What will HBO -- the station of humbugger, bull$hitting and obfuscating -- telecast next? The $hit eaters, sweat lickers and vomit tasters. There use to be propaganda, back in the day, that Irish GOAT Ali drank his own sweat because of "viitamin intake." BULL! I was a kid -- playing with his kids -- and in umpteen of his training camps. Wow! Now how many low self-esteem, impressionable people are going to start drinking and licking their piss and sweat? Waste of animals -- human are at top of the animal kingdom -- should be dumped, not gulped. And what Pops Joy May said, is just boxing talk -- no harm and a literal belief. In elite boxing, we aren't hypersensitive morons worrying about and being offended by hyperbolism and smack talk. I don't get offended easily. Put some jive on me, and I will reciprocate -- rhetorically counterpunch. I'm a real gamer from the real hurt bitnezz. I come from a long line of champions. And as it is said, "Don't start none, and there will be none!" Boxing is a metaphor for life. Just about everything get its figures of speech and songs from boxing. Do some research. Y'all bettah recognize! And like the oldtimers say and said, "Stay loosey-goosey!" "Anger sits in the bosom of fools." Holla!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 01:33:00 PM
leonardomarroquini:
Everything in this article seems cool and truthfull BUT the part where you mention you'll watch it with some hot chicks! come on mate... haha
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 02:07:14 PM
Radam G, a most humble PacManite picture taking with da Cali-Mexican Nightmare da legit:
***...television station of humbuggery... I meant Roger Mayweather. I remember, back in the day, when Uncle Roger called Rocky Lockridge, Pinoy mestizo, a "bum." Rocky knocked him da double fudge out." For yours info, FFW, we boxers always use throw-away words -- jive talk, such as bum, punchy, bumpy, punched drunk, catcher, runner, kid, old man, grandpa, toilet-tissue face, bleeder, diver, joka,' sucka,' perpretator, fraud, paperchampion, hooker, dancer, b*tch puncher, punk and a lot more that are not approriate for this hypersensitive Universe. Elite boxing is a tough, noise-talking, smack-talking, rumor-spreading hurt business (or bitnezz, as the true gamers spit.). You will never achieve must in this game with a temper. Those with the tempers are members of what we call the punk boxing crew. The oldtimer, back in the day, called them clubfighters. Like it is said, "Take that $hit to the playground, to the street. A person with a temper will -- what elite boxer say -- get f*cked up. Holla!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 02:14:14 PM
What's up... Hey as you get older you don't move like you use to but he was so much better then most it won't matter. Marqez is getting stoped for the first time Mayweather by KO round 10 he got to go.
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 03:25:56 PM
ali:
This post is for all the Mayweather bashers.. Who hits harder Mayweather or Pac?
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 03:28:14 PM
MisterLee:
Rashad Holloway, sparring partner for marg and pac says pac hits harder. Pac is faster too, so i would say pac hits only a little harder than may, but he's busier, faster, and more aggressive. Holler! mayweather is better at rolling with punches, figuring out opponents, and shoulder rolling and countering, pacquiao has faster feet, faster hands, a weird in and out rhythm with punches that come in bunches. A good matchup for sure. But that's my opinion. Pc out!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 04:01:04 PM
Frank Z@MisterLee:
Yeah i saw the same thing, but he's also putting more umph into his punches when working the mitts with roger, and also when he's hitting the heavybag, that might mean that he's finally no longer wary of hurting his hands, and he knows he might need to make up for his loss of speed with more authority behind his shots. Mayweather vs. pac is a fight would absolutely HAVE to happen if they both win in the next couple of months, and stylistically it'd be a great matchup as well. i can see how holloway would say pac hits harder because pac hits from so many angles that it's easy to get blinded, and also the snap he puts on his punches makes the impact more felt.
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 05:05:48 PM
MisterLee adds:
@ Frank Z. Great points! I'd like to see Mosley take on the pac may winner. Holler! pc out!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 05:20:24 PM
Misterlee about 24/7 and HBO:
With all the money and cash the whores called HBO have shipped out for the money may and pacquiao fight, you'd think they'd have the boxing sense and love of boxing to at least make a 30 minute build up for marg mosley. I mean honestly, I think marg mosley, the buildup, finish, and after math has Legendary Nights all over it. Mosley vs. marg i felt was similar to ali vs. foreman. Mosley was gonna get crushed, marg was unbeatable and scary and huge, and mosley had not won a major fight in years. I mean, gomez cotto had like a 4 week build up and 30 min. specials, and you had the legend mosley without a single informercial build up? Sorry, I"m upset b/c I'm about to rewatch mosley marg, and remembing the atmosphere and electricity in the air following cotto marg and the negotiations leading up to the mosley fight. and also how everyone tried to compare "punching power" and "mosley's age" to cotto and his failure to defeat marg. Mosley really deserves more credit, money, and fame than he's getting. He's the anti-thesis of may, not picky with opponents, doesn't always fight for big money, takes on the toughest opponents out there. Mosley will most certainly be seen as an AGOAT someday. Pc out!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 05:28:37 PM
MisterLee excited over boxing...:
Yo yo! So i checked espn dot com, and mosley is thinking of clottey or berto in late janurary, more likely berto, clottey might get an undercard televised in the wlliams pavlik fight, and bhop most likely will fight dawson or adamek. wow, who was calling bhop a ducker and hider again? Great stuff, and tonight... Andre Ward 2009! :)
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 06:41:43 PM
Salt lover@Mr.Lee:
I just recorded all two (And right now recording the 3rd) of episodes of the 24/7, where you see Floyd is not sharp? His punches are as sharp as they've ever been, dude, what you talking about? The only decline I've been noticing on Floyd is on his talking. He talks the same trash, but he very often mentions "I'll keep talking until somebody shuts my mouth", "Until somebody beats me, I'll keep talking", and the "If I lose...." comments. He's never said things like before. But his hands? Please, he's crisp as ever, and besides he's TRAINING, he's not at 100% yet.
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 08:15:33 PM
ali @ MinsterLee:
So if Mayweather KO Marquez you would be impress sense you think Pac hits harder then Mayweather and Pac couldn't finish him in 24 rounds of fighting Marquez.
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 10:32:40 PM
MisterLee @ ali:
yo dude... mayweather is a defensive master, and a technical counter puncher, paquiao is a brawler converted into a elusiver boxer-puncher. "styles make fights". Pacquioa ended hatton + de hoya in less than 10 rounds, while Mayweather ended them in 22 rounds, mayweather went the distance with zab judah and chop chop corley for 24 rounds while cotto handled both of them within 15-17 rounds. Does this mean based on these stats that one hits harder than the other or that one is better than the other? Of course not! In boxing "styles make fights" and "boxing is a theatre of the unexpected." Chris John beat Marquez, does that mean he's better than Pacquiao? Nope. @ Salt Lover, i'm not saying he looks bad bad, but admit, his mitt work for the hatton fight was like poetry. So fast, so reactive, or his jump roping on youtube, where he could sprint jump rope for 5 minutes or more and do tricks and play around, he was a physical specimen man! well, granted i haven't seen the entire 24/7 series, but i expect him to be good, or even great, but pointing out he doesn't look exactly the same as he used to , that's all, which is expected after 2 years a retirement...also a lesson, don't take your talent for granted or dont' quit early. pc out!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 11:11:39 PM
MisterLee:
@ ali, also, just curious, why do you keep misspelling my name? Am i really mincing the readers? haha... umm... also, you know , I feel even the whole retirement thing, not only was floyd burnt out, but i think he really was using his brain to retire: he's undefeated hasn't been hurt, lets retire rich with my health and happiness... let's walk away, but returning is with his heart, but, he may still pick and choose his opponents and duck the best after pacquiao, we'll see... holler!
Saturday Sep 12, 2009 11:13:36 PM
ali @ MisterLee:
My bad about your name I got the misspelled one save in my computer and I click the wrong one im not trying to do it on purpose. I bring up who can punch harder because I wanted to know if Mayweather was able to stop Marquez would that impress you sense nobody has been able to do not even the hard hitting much improved Pac.
Sunday Sep 13, 2009 02:30:47 AM
Salt lover@ali:
Tremendous comments there ali. If Floyd does finish Marquez, he'll be the only fighter with enough skills to do so with Marquez, a fighter who's never been KO'ed before. But some of the astrologists in TSS will use the IFs again and say: "IF Marquez fights Pacquiao now, he'll get KO'ed".
Sunday Sep 13, 2009 07:37:37 AM
MisterLee @ ali:
Yes, PBF's ring IQ, counter punching ability, and defense can nullify marquez's defense. Once PBF sees blood, he closes the show, punches come non-stop, until his monkey-a$$ drops (catch that reference? :) If it's a rugged pressure fight, a different style, floyd would be hard pressed going to the body b/c of his hand... one land on a hip bone and his right hand is broken. Thanks for spelling my name right! I know you didn't mean to, but you know how it is, the ettiquette for disrespecting someone first starts with calling them by their wrong name ("Bonavera, Clay" "Please call me Muhammad Ali". "Clay, is a chicken" "Now I really want to whoop you!" ) haha... have a good day!
Sunday Sep 13, 2009 09:13:48 AM
Isaiah:
I don't want Mayweather to win, but I just don't see how he wouldn't if he's fully focused. Don't like the man, but he's always focused in that ring and in top shape. Marquez has a chance being he's also trained his butt off and is a highly skilled boxer, but's it's a small chance.
Sunday Sep 13, 2009 03:01:14 PM
Joey B:
tsk tsk tsk,,, Marquez drinking his own urine.. Pacman must have damaged his brain.. what's next? eat his own sh*t too? JMM is disgusting.. so if Manny doesn't drink urine will make him less tough?
It will be very hard for Marquez to win this bout. Juanma does not have a knock out punch... not like Manny. So if he will rely on winning againts Mayweather on points.. forget it. The judges wont give it to Marquez. Just like what happened to him againts Pacquiao.
Having said that.. I will still go for Marquez. I think he is the best trained boxer today. Maybe.. just maybe he can make a lucky punch and send Pretty Boy to the canvas.. very exciting fight.
Monday Sep 14, 2009 12:57:53 PM
Twenty three years later after they seconded Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Goody Petronelli and Angelo Dundee crossed paths again. This time, it was at Foxwoods. Photo/friend of TSS "The Iceman" John Scully reports there were only pleasantries exchanged. Goody didn't debate the split decision victory enjoyed by Leonard, which to this day Hagler disputes.
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