Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association featherweight champion who priced himself out of the negotiations for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, is bitter over his botched brawl with the Filipino bomber.
Marquez and his trainer Nacho Beristain said they were upset with their promoter Top Rank promotions, which ranged stablemate Erik Morales against the RP southpaw in a megabuck superfeatherweight bout.
According to Web site boxingladiators.com, Marquez and Beristain will seek to end their relationship with Top Rank for not getting the deal with Pacquiao.
Marquez, who survived three knockdowns and escaped with a split draw in his first outing with the General Santos slugger, was supposed to tackle Pacquiao on Feb. 19.
But the lengthy talks bogged down after Marquez refused to accept the $750,000 purse offered by HBO, insisting on a $1.5-million take.
Then, Beristain learned that Morales will get more than $2.5-million in facing Pacquaio. He said this was the final straw on their ties with Top Rank, with which Morales had a rocky relationship especially with regards to purses and its failure to get Morales in the ring with him in the past.
Their contract is about to end next month, after he fights IBF superbantam king Israel ?Magnifico? Vasquez.
Pacquiao’s camp, meanwhile, was all too happy to have Morales as a foe instead.
Trainer Freddie Roach said the 130 lbs wars may be an unchartered territory for Pacquaio but he is confident he can hurdle the bigger Morales like he did Marco Antonio Barrera and Marquez.
?The guy’s little bit bigger, but Manny’s the bigger puncher for sure,? Roach said.
?We’ll get Manny in the greatest shape we can and go from there. We’re going to have to fight a hard fight we’re going to have to fight a fast-paced fight because Morales likes to fight at a slow pace, so we’re not going to let that happen. We’re going to be in great shape like we were for the Barrera fight and the Marquez fight,? he added.
