If the latest rumors surrounding WBA and WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez are to be believed, he could be on the verge of leaving long term promoter Golden Boy in hopes of securing a third fight with rival Manny Pacquiao.
And he wouldn’t be the first fighter of late to do so.
Shane Mosley left Golden Boy, secured a big money fight with Manny Pacquiao despite a lackluster recent run, and even if unsuccessful will likely have the possibility for rematches against the likes of Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito. In short, it looks at the moment as if leaving Golden Boy at this stage of his career was likely a good move for Mosley.
For Marquez too, signing with Top Rank could be the opportunity he has been waiting for. He has already fought and lost to Golden Boy’s biggest star in Floyd Mayweather, and finds himself looking for a new challenge away from the lightweight division he has ruled over for the last three years. The main appeal initially of jumping ship being a third big money fight with Manny Pacquiao, who he lost to and drew with at super featherweight several years ago.
Beyond that, assuming that Marquez would likely be beaten handily by Pacquiao at welterweight, a return to lightweight could produce interesting bouts against the likes of Brandon Rios or Humberto Soto. Since his tenth round stoppage of Miguel Acosta last weekend, Rios also now holds the WBA world lightweight title, which Marquez holds the “super” version of.
Of course, whether Marquez decides to leave Golden Boy or not at the moment probably depends on what Top Rank are prepared to offer him. Realistically the only way that Marquez should consider leaving Golden Boy would be if he was guaranteed a shot at Pacquiao by Bob Arum.
Not long ago Arum was quoted as saying that Marquez would need to prove himself at a higher weight before being given a shot at Pacquiao, who now fights two classes above Marquez at welterweight
For the time being then, staying with Golden Boy for at least one more fight might be a prudent move given their wider talent base at light welterweight.
Perhaps the most obvious way to prove himself while still under the Golden Boy banner would be to take on the winner of the upcoming WBA light welterweight world title bout between Erik Morales and Marcos Maidana.
In doing so Marquez could both potentially win a fourth world title at a fourth weight as well as proving that he can still be effective north of 135lbs. Also aside from the size disadvantage he would be faced with against either Maidana or Morales, both are fighters he would match up well against stylistically.
Alternatively to either proving himself at a higher weight class or chasing another fight with Pacquiao, Marquez also has the option of simply staying at lightweight and beating whoever gets put in front of him. Certainly not as satisfying perhaps as challenging larger fighters and chasing titles at higher weights, but also almost certain to prolong his career.
Antonio Estrada, Pitt: “Marquez should fight the Morales-Maidana winner, he could beat either then go after Pac. He should wait and see what happens to Mosley before he leaves Golden Boy”
