Dear Legend:
It has come to my attention that you are threatening to retire unless your promoter, Golden Boy, lines up a fight with “a big name” for you. It’s being said that you might go one and done, meaning fight once more and then pack it in.
As a lock for the Boxing Hall of Fame, nobody would question your right to pack it in now if you so desired. If you did, you would leave a treasure trove of fantastic memories for fight fans. You have done your sport and all of Mexico proud. You are one of the greatest Aztec ring warriors ever. So no one questions your credibility or resume in any way.
What I do question is your naming Megamanny Pacquaio as the “big name” you want to fight next. Do you really see that happening given the blood war raging between GBP and Top Rank? When GBP’s Richard Schaefer has publicly branded Pacman “a liar” and Arum has come out and lumped young Schaefer in with the Swiss of his “generation” (code word for Nazi.)
When the court-ordered mediation between all these wealthy egomaniacs (yes, that includes you also Oscar) seems to be stuck in quicksand?
Don’t panic, MAB. I’ve got the solution. Don’t panic because your solution is in-house and Hispanic at the same time.
GBP has no opponent or fight date for undefeated WBO 130-pound champ Joan Guzman. Neither does co-promoter Sycuan although both have been working feverishly to locate one.
Voila, you solve two problems for GBP in one fell swoop. You fight Guzman either on Sept. 15, the show now headlined by Juan Manuel Marquez. He’s fighting Jorge Barrios. Why? I don’t know, perhaps because GBP loves Sampson Lewkowicz and Argentina TV money, I’m not really sure considering that Guzman toyed with “La Hiena” over 12 rounds.
Barrera-Guzman. Two guys who can scrap but who are, at heart, master boxers. What makes it even more appropriate is that guys like Rocky Juarez, who fought you twice, run when they hear the Dominican Dandy’s name.
Scott Woodworth of Sycuan and Erik Gomez at GBP have been pulling their hair out trying to find a suitable foe for Senor Guzman. All GBP and SRP need to do is to satisfy MAB’s financial demands which I’m sure are considerable.
This match can be made. There are no legal complications here. It will turn into a hot match. HBO wants to put both of these fighters on the air so why not against each other? Look, Pacman will be there for one or both you, meaning you and/or Guzman. But now Humberto Soto is a virtual lock as his dance partner for Oct. 6 in Vancouver and Bob Arum plans to announce same either today (Monday) or tomorrow.
So go ahead, gents, strike it. Barrera-Guzman. If it’s no go Sept. 15, then put it on November when HBO’s schedule is more flexible.
I know the world would love to see you and Pacman uno mas tiempo, MAB, but it ain’t happening as we Chilangos like to say. Go for the gusto and fight this more than worthy opponent, Joan Guzman.
It’s a tough fight, a very tough fight. But isn’t that what becomes a legend most? Go ahead, legend, do what legends do.
Sincerely,
MICHAEL MARLEY
