In this space, last week, it was reported that a bout between lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and his Mexican countryman Erik Morales was likely to take place on April 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Now it seems that report might have been a bit premature, as today Boxingscene scribe Jhonny Gonzalez reported that Marquez is playing a bit of hardball with the rebounding Morales.
According to Gonzalez, Marquez feels Morales had his opportunity to fight him back in the early 2000s and did not provide him the opportunity. Back then, Morales was the marquee Mexican and Marquez was trying to scratch himself into boxing’s high rent district.
Gonzalez goes on to report that Marquez will be meeting with promotional firm Golden Boy on January 20 to discuss his next bout.
Meanwhile, Marquez’s trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain told Univision Radio that his fighter’s goal is to win a championship in a fourth weight division – something Morales cannot offer and never accomplished by a Mexican born fighter..
On the flip side, if Marquez granted Morales an opportunity to fight, Morales would be able to win a championship in his fourth weight division.
Clearly, ego has manifistated itself in the negotiations for a battle between the two Mexican stand-outs
