While he wasn?t quite able to pull off the upset over Manny Pacquiao on November 12th, Mexico City?s Juan Manuel Marquez was still able to leave us with a performance that spoke volumes about the passion and ability that he still has.
Marquez?s bout with Pacquiao, his third in a memorable trilogy, saw him tag the Filipino idol with piercing blows early and dictate the tempo of the fight throughout much of the contest. Pacquiao did stage a late rally but it was surprising when the scorecards were read, giving him a majority-decision verdict.
Life goes on for Marquez, who sees his stock still extremely high at age 38. The three-division champion is the running for a crack at Pacquiao this coming May or June, along with the likes of Tim Bradley, Lamont Peterson, and Miguel Cotto, but there is another luminary who has been calling his name in recent months.
For years Tijuana?s Erik ?El Terrible? Morales and Marquez fought in or near the same weight class yet a bout between them never materialized. Advertisement
But with Morales? 2010 comeback to the sport and a solid 2011 that saw him give Argentinean brawler Marcos Maidana hell before lifting his fourth world title this past September with a victory over Pablo Cesar Cano at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the possibility of a clash between them isn?t of reach.
In November, Morales stopped by The Boxing Lab, Boxingscene.com?s official radio show, and told hosts Ryan Burton, Ernest Gabion, and Luis Sandoval that Marquez had no real interest in such a meeting.
“Truly the fight interests me but it doesn?t interest [Marquez]. He doesn?t have plans to fight me” Morales stated. “He doesn?t like the idea. He knows fighting me would be a difficult [fight]. Very difficult. And I don?t think he?s willing anymore to take difficult fights.”
Weeks later and Morales is still open to the challenge, even putting Marquez on the spot a little bit.
?If Marquez wants to fight with me, I would be very happy to do it. And if we don?t ever fight, it?s because he doesn?t want to,? Morales was quoted as saying in BoxingScene.com piece by Miguel Rivera.
Who knows how things will play out, however, as Marquez had stated his only real interest is a fourth fight with Pacquiao. Marquez has also seen his name linked to the likes of Timothy Bradley, Mike Alvarado, and David Diaz in recent weeks, and Morales is likely right that he simply isn?t a priority at this point in time.
But it shouldn’t be a worry to Morales, who has a serious task in front of him in the form of unbeaten Danny Garcia. Morales defends his belt against the tough Philadelphian on March 24th in Houston, Texas on HBO’s airwaves.
