source: Chris Robinson | Examiner.com
In the coming months, from mid-April to late June, it looks like a slew of high-profile fights may be on the horizon. If everything plays out the right way, we could be treated to such showcases as Brandon Rios-Yuriorkis Gamboa, Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto, the Amir Khan-Lamont Peterson rematch, Saul Alvarez-Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley and the rescheduled Victor Ortiz-Andre Berto rematch.
Some definite big names in that mix but one man who figures to be on the outside looking in at the moment is Mexico City’s Juan Manuel Marquez. The lineal lightweight champion of the world, Marquez moved up to 142 pounds for his last bout, a spirited give-and-take battle with Pacquiao inside the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this past November that saw him drop a majority-decision that many felt he should have won.
Speaking to RingTV.com’s Lem Satterfield over the weekend, Marquez weighed in on his future and also took a look at some of the other matchups that could affect him in the long run.
Marquez had hopes of another fight with Manny Pacquiao, which would be the fourth in their memorable series, and simply feels that Bradley lacks the power to compete with the Filipino icon.
“I don't think so, because even though Bradley is a great boxer, and he has skills, he needs the power,” Marquez stated. “He [doesn't] have that power. Pacquiao has the speed and Pacquiao has the power. The difference in this fight is power. The difference will be the power punches that Pacquiao has.”
Marquez was looking at a possible July assignment with Peterson but has no hard feelings in seeing the Washington, D.C. fighter opt for the lucrative Khan rematch.
“No, I feel good,” Marquez stated. “I tell you, if Peterson signed the rematch, then, you know, he needs to go and do it. So I think that's a good fight, with Peterson fighting Khan again.”
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who co-promoted Marquez’s recent duel with Pacquiao, is still eyeing a summer return for Juan but with several big names now tied up, Marquez may be looking at a tune-up fight come April.
“I have to talk to my promoter, Fernando Beltran, and Top Rank, but I don't know what's going to happen at this moment,” stated Marquez. “I have some options, yes. Maybe I'll fight in April in Mexico City. Maybe [against] David Diaz. In July, I don't have a name yet. But I would like to fight at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. That's a great place, because there are a lot of Mexican people in Dallas.”
Marquez was looking at Diaz as an opponent this past July but opted for Columbia's Likar Ramos instead after the Chicago-based fighter and former champion reportedly priced himself out of the fight.
