By Liam Fitzgerald: Juan Manuel Marquez is looking more and more likely to face World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan in his next fight. At one time it seemed he was on the point of taking on Khan’s fellow Brit Ricky Hatton but that fight now seems to not be happening. Marquez’s choice of opponent is very important since his career looks to be coming to an end and he will want to finish off in style against the biggest fighters out there. Having looked overweight and uncomfortable when being comfortably beaten by Floyd Mayweather at welterweight last year, the weight class he also returns to is also a big consideration for him. Personally, for me the Khan fight is not his best option at all.

Khan is trying to make a name for himself in America and wants a big name for his first fight over there and Marquez looks to be his main target. The problem with that is that Khan has yet to build up a big fan base even in Britain. He’s not a Ricky Hatton type of character who will create a great atmosphere for fights with a swarm of fans supporting him. However, Khan is not a bad fighter and through his work with Freddie Roach, he has been able to effectively use his excellent hand speed to win fights without too much risk. Marquez is not a one punch KO artist who can expose Khan’s chin and this means this fight could be very risky for the Mexican. I believe he is a better boxer than Khan but speed often kills and with there being little recognition for winning, I can’t see why he would choose to take the fight.

What is even more astonishing and disrespectful about the fight is that Golden Boy are in effect using Marquez as a stepping stone for their young star. They are hoping for a scalp against a well known fighter but this view is very much misguided. Marquez last year was p4p number 2 behind Pacquiao after proving himself as the best lightweight out there and one bad defeat to an exceptionally talented fighter such as Mayweather is no disgrace. He is still an excellent fighter and has enough talent to beat Khan so it is no foregone conclusion that the young champion will prevail. I really hope Golden Boy’s arrogant attitude comes back to haunt them with a Marquez victory because this great Mexican really does not deserve that treatment.

The best fight out there for Marquez in my mind is Ricky Hatton. Marquez has shown that he can’t really hack it at 147 lbs so that takes mega fights against the likes of Pacquiao, Mosley and Cotto out of the equation. However, 140 lbs could suit him and the biggest name in that division is Hatton. Add to the equation Hatton’s weight issues and his 2 recent KO losses, this is a very winnable fight against what could be a fragile fighter. Marquez deserves more recognition and big money fights at this stage of his career after his great performances in the past and in my eyes this looks to be the far more enticing fight.

Marquez’s other option is to go back to the lightweight division and defend the WBO title he holds there. This would seem the least advantageous of his options because of the lack of big names there. The main man is Edwin Valero, the WBC lightweight champion who has the phenomenal record of 27 wins, all inside the distance. However, the risk involved in fighting a man with such power at the end of his career is illogical. The worst way for him to go out would be with a spectacular KO loss. Just ask Ricky Hatton why he is coming back.

So therefore, I believe it would be best for Marquez to choose Hatton for his next bout. It is a big name, big money fight which is very winnable and is an apt way to bow out should he choose to fight only once more. There is more risk than reward with pursuing the likes of Khan and Valero, even though he is a better boxer than them both, and for someone who has been so good for boxing in the last few years, it would be a shame for him to go out on a low like that. shown that he can’t really hack it at 147 lbs so that takes mega fights against the likes of Pacquiao, Mosley and Cotto out of the equation.