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Although he is likely coming close to the end of his career at 39 years of age, lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez is still very much a fighter in demand, and currently has the two biggest promoters in the sport vying for his services.
Over the past few weeks there have been several conflicting reports claiming both that Marquez is preparing to sign a new deal with Golden Boy promotions and chase a title in a fourth weight class, and alternatively that he is ready to sign with Top Rank promotions, gaining a third fight with rival Manny Pacquiao.
Both offers are clearly on the table, so why hasn’t he decided already?
In delaying his decision, Marquez is likely both playing for time and ensuring that he gets offered the best deals that either promoter is willing to make him.
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Also it is possible that one of the deals currently on offer can’t be finalized for several weeks due to it’s reliance on the results of other bouts.
The first option and one that many are urging Marquez to take is to sign with Top Rank and secure a third fight with long time rival Manny Pacquiao.
Several sources in Mexico are reporting that a formal letter of proposal was sent from Top Rank to Golden Boy regarding Marquez taking on Pacquiao. ESPN’s Dan Rafael also talked to both Top Rank’s Todd Debouf and Golden Boy’s Richard Scheafer on the matter.
Before then however Pacquiao faces Shane Mosley on May 7th, and any deals regarding his future likely can’t be signed and sealed until after he has defeated the Californian.
If Marquez were to sign to fight Pacquiao now and the Filipino were to lose to Mosley then the value of a third bout against Marquez would be lessened in terms of pay per view revenues and what each party could expect to make.
Also it would also almost certainly be delayed substantially whilst Pacquiao and Mosley fought a rematch.
That issue aside, the chances of Marquez beating a now full welterweight version of Pacquiao are fairly slim.
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Beyond this then Marquez and his team will no doubt be looking at other potential opponents Top Rank could offer them such as the winner of the July bout between lightweights Brandon Rios and Urbano Antillon.
Marquez’s other option is to remain with current promoters Golden Boy who have offered him a more lucrative deal than he is signed to at the moment, and a fight against 140lb IBF titlist Zab Judah.
The main appeal of this option is that it gives him the chance at winning a world title in his fourth weight division, making Marquez the first Mexican to achieve the feat.
Something Marquez along with the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales have all been actively campaigning to achieve.
Should he break into the upper echelons of the light welterweight division there are also other options such as bouts against the likes of Marcos Maidana or Amir Khan that Golden Boy could secure for him.
Perhaps eventually even a shot at the welterweight title now held by Victor Ortiz should Marquez defy the odds and climb to the top of the light welterweight division also.
Until Pacquiao and Mosley have fought however, Marquez won’t be in any hurry to sign with either party regardless of what they are supposedly offering him.
And rumors of where he will end up will continue to be reported and to conflict with each other.
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