Schaefer says Juan Manuel Marquez is ready to step in against Pacquiao

By Boxing News - 08/19/2010 - Comments

Image: Schaefer says Juan Manuel Marquez is ready to step in against PacquiaoBy Matt Stein: Antonio Margarito was rejected by the California Athletic Commission on Wednesday in Margarito’s second attempt to get a boxing license. Margarito already was rejected by the Nevada Athletic Commission previously. Margarito’s promoter Bob Arum seems reluctant to give up on his unlicensed fighter for some reason, despite his inability to get a boxing license in the United States for the November 13th fight against Manny Pacquiao. Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, is interested in putting Juan Manuel Marquez back in with Pacquiao for a third fight in place of Margarito, saying to Dan Rafael of ESPN “Marquez is ready, willing, able and licensed. Let’s do unfinished business.”

Arum needs to think about that option, because not only is Margarito having a hard time getting a boxing license in the U.S., but few fans appear to be interested in watching Pacquiao fight the recently disgraced Margarito, who was caught with a hardened substance in his hand wraps a year ago in 2009 before his fight against Shane Mosley. Arum so far has persisted in wanting to match Margarito against Pacquiao, ignoring the unceasing criticism from fans about Margarito being selected for Pacquiao.

With Pacquiao having already fought an unpopular Joshua Clottey in his last fight in March, it seems confusing why Arum would push an equally unpopular Margarito as Pacquiao’s next opponent rather than looking at other options, like Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Sergio Martinez or Andre Berto. Those fighters may not be huge super stars, but they’re popular enough, and each has a valid boxing license. It’s pretty obvious why Arum wants to match Margarito up with Pacquiao, though. The hand wrap flap has really hurt Margarito’s standing in the boxing community, and since Margarito is one of Arum’s fighters in his Top Rank stable, what better way to increase his value than to put him in with Pacquiao.

Even if Margarito does end up losing to Pacquiao, if he gives a good performance, it will increase Margarito’s worth and make it easier for Arum to make money off of him in the future in other pay per view bouts. But if Arum doesn’t stick Margarito in with Pacquiao, then it’s going to be much harder to elevate Margarito’s status as a PPV attraction. The Pacquiao-Margarito fight will be tool to help promote the Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto II rematch, which will be taking place next year.

This is why Arum really needs Margarito to fight Pacquiao instead of looking to match Pacquiao up with some other fighter outside of Arum’s Top Rank stable. A fight between Marquez and Pacquiao would be great, but Marquez doesn’t fight for Arum, so it’s not a fight where Arum can help two of his fighters in one bout like the Margarito-Pacquiao fight.



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