By Chris Williams: Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1, 40 KO’s) has reportedly been given a huge $15 million offer to fight WBF light welterweight champion Zolani Morali (22-5, 13 KO’s) in Dubai in March, according to the record.com.mx. The offer has been made and the 39-year-old Marquez and his trainer Nacho Beristain are considering it.
Before the fight can get made, Marquez’s promoters will have to give him the okay. It’s unclear if the offer is a legitimate one but if it is it’s going to be hard for Marquez to say no to it even though he’s supposed to be fighting a tune-up in April to get ready for a rematch against Manny Pacquiao in September.
Beristain doesn’t think Marquez will be ready to take the fight in March because he’s been out of training since his 6th round knockout win over Manny Pacquiao last December on the 8th.
If the money offer is real then Marquez may choose to take it because it would be by far the biggest payday of his 20-year pro career. Marquez’s previous biggest payday was last December when he received a guaranteed $3 million plus PPV upside to fight Pacquiao.
Morali, 35, has lost four out of his last seven fights but he captured the World Boxing Federation light welterweight title in his last fight against Ali Funeka last December on South Africa. Before that, Morali has suffered losses to the likes of Billy Dib, Ji-Hoon Kim, Mlungisi Dlamini and Funeka in the past five years.
What’s unclear is who would want to pay $15 million to Marquez just to see him fight a guy like Morali? If they’re paying Marquez that kind of change, how much will they be paying the less popular Morali? It’s going to be a lot less I would have to imagine.
Will Top Rank promoter Bob Arum be pleased at seeing Marquez possibly jeopardizing a big money rematch with Pacquiao in September by facing Morali or will Arum give Marquez his blessing for this match-up?
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