It what is turning out to be a frustrating year for boxing fans, the sport suffered another tremendous blow today when it was announced earlier today that two-division champion Rafael Marquez has suffered a thumb injury to his right thumb and will not be able to participate in his scheduled September 18th clash with WBO featherweight king Juan Manuel Lopez at the MGM Grand. The reports are varying as to how Marquez suffered the injury but what is for certain is how damaging of a blow this is to an already disappointing 2010 campaign.
The year thus far has been void of consistency and meaningful matchups. No real fight-of-the-year candidates stand out like in year?s past and much of the sport?s significance road on the anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather clash that failed to come to fruition. Lopez-Marquez was looked at as the fight that could fill some of that void but the Mexico City fighter is now on the sidelines for six to eight weeks because of his injury.
“I am very disappointed with what has happened to me,” Marquez was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. “Everyone knows that’s the fight I was waiting for, but I definitely won’t be ready September 18th. I don’t know what will happen now. I came from the doctor and he told me not to fight. I’m sad for myself and all of the Mexicans who wanted to see us fight on the 18th in Las Vegas.”
It does look as though Lopez will move forward with a different opponent on the 18th but you have to wonder who exactly Top Rank will be considering. The logical choice is interim WBA champion Celestino Caballero but he is looked at as simply being too big of a risk by many promoters in the sport. Bob Arum has been trying to build up a Lopez clash with Yuriorkis Gamboa, who fights in Las Vegas on September 11th at the Palms, and Caballero certainly has a chance at throwing a wrench into those plans if given the right opportunity.
Boxing is often about money and that is why Caballero has been shut out of the high-profile fights that he has desired in recent years. Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but let?s hope Top Rank does what is right and takes a serious look at the Panamanian as a replacement for the injured Marquez.
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
