Will Juan Manuel Marquez sit out and wait for Manny Pacquiao this November? Is Bob Arum attempting to orchestrate a break-up of team Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.? Does Erik Morales have another big fight in his future? Find out the answer to these questions and more in this week’s “From Pillar to Post!”
Juan Manuel Marquez Passes on July 14 Tune-Up
Juan Manuel Marquez was hoping to get in at least one more fight before he gets his fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao this fall, a presumed clash with a southpaw opponent at Cowboy Stadium, but now Marquez isn’t fighting at all and the July 14 card has been completely dissolved. The card was supposed to originally be a doubleheader with Marquez and Nonito Donaire, which then became Marquez and Brandon Rios, and now it’s nothing. Donaire and Rios will have their own doubleheader in Vegas, with Donaire fighting Jeremy Mathebula and Rios against someone that’ll hopefully erase the fact he was dominated and embarrassed by Richard Abril a few months ago.
It’s interesting to note that Freddie Roach has said ahead of Pacquiao’s fight with Timothy Bradley that “nobody is interested” in another Marquez rematch, though it was only six or so months ago when Roach stressed the importance of closing the book on Marquez. Bob Arum was originally hoping that Marquez, not Bradley, would be the opponent on June 9, so he’s sure as hell not going to miss his opportunity to make this fight again. Roach’s comments do strike me as odd though. It’s not the first time he’s flip-flopped his statements to match the Bobfather, but there has been a lot more going down in Los Angeles than we’re led to believe.
Arum Forcing His Hand on Chavez Jr. Camp?
A few months ago, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. told us at FightHype that he was not going to be strong-armed into a contract extension with Top Rank before his current contract expires, and before that, there were very strong rumors that Arum was trying to get Chavez away from Roach and strength trainer Alex Ariza. Those rumors intensified when last week, Roach made a comment to Ring Magazine that suggested Ariza was no longer involved with Chavez Jr.’s training ahead of his June 16 bout with Andy Lee (although it was reported here at FightHype.com that Ariza was spotted working with Chavez Jr. a day after Roach made that comment).
To go even further, there is heavy chatter that the Lee fight may be the last fight for Chavez under Roach before he goes to Oxnard to train with Robert Garcia at the behest of Arum. Ariza said to us way back in November that Arum was trying to make it happen. If it is true and Chavez does in fact go to train with Garcia, he’s trading one over-worked trainer for another, and to be absolutely honest, I’d prefer to stay with Roach if I were Chavez.
Erik Morales Aims For Garcia, Maidana Rematches
Well that was quick, wasn’t it? Only two months since Erik Morales fell short against Danny Garcia and saying a farewell fight with Mexico was very likely, Morales has broken his silence and called out Garcia, Marcos Maidana, and the winner of the Lucas Matthysse/Humberto Soto fight for a fall clash. Morales believes he still has a good effort or two in him left, despite his inability to make weight for his last fight with Garcia, and wants to go out on top before his career is truly over.
Whoever Morales ends up fighting, my gut is telling me that it’ll be either Maidana or Soto, should be beat Matthysse. It’ll be on the Saul Alvarez/Paul Williams card on September 15 to help bolster Alvarez’s pay-per-view debut. Morales can go out the way he wants to go. He’s not nearly as decrepit or run-down like Roy Jones, so we’ll see if he can surprise us yet again with another great effort.
I’m ready for the Big Time!
Before I take off for the week, I’m happy to announce that “From Pillar to Post” will be weekly not only on FightHype but on YouTube as well! Please check out my first video when you guys are able and let me know what you think. Also, e-mail me your thoughts on the recently announced Saul Alvarez/Paul Williams pay-per-view and I’ll read off my favorite responses next week.
