Marquez’s fans will decide who he faces next, says manager

By Boxing News - 02/01/2013 - Comments

marquez24By Chris Williams: Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1, 40 KO’s) may not necessarily be facing the struggling Filipino Manny Pacquiao next, according to his manager Fernando Beltran. Who the 39-year-old Marquez fights next will be up to his Mexican boxing fans.

Beltran plans on creating a survey for Marquez’s fans to take to decision who should be the next opponent for him. If they decide they don’t want Marquez to fight Pacquiao next, then he’ll follow their wishes.

Speaking with ESPN Deportes “It will be what the Mexicans decide. It is not dependent on Pacquiao. Juanma plans a program in which surveys will be made so that the people can decide who he will fight…If the people want it, we will give the opportunity to Manny.”

I think this is a fair way to decide who Marquez will fight next. However, I think Beltran and Marquez can save themselves the trouble by choosing not to waste time with the survey to choose his next fight since it’s obvious that Marquez’s Mexican boxing fans are going to overwhelmingly choose Pacquiao as the guy they want to face. Who else is there for Marquez to fight that boxing fans would get excited about.

They’re not going to choose Erik Morales because he’s over the hill and heading for retirement. They’re not going to choose Marco Antonio Barrera because he hasn’t fought in ages. They’re not going to pick Brandon Rios given that he’s not a big star in Mexico.

The only guys they’ll pick for Marquez is Pacquiao and/or Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Marquez is probably too small to face Canelo, although I think he could Canelo a lot of trouble if he were able to get past the 6th round without getting cut.

What Marquez and Beltran should only take the rematch with Pacquiao if they’re going to give him a 50-50 purse split. If they’re talking about Marquez getting a tin purse in comparison to Pacquiao, in addition to possibly having to agree to random blood testing, then Marquez should say no. If they want the rematch then it’s got to be a 50-50 purse split or nothing. Let Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum stew on that a little while.

If he doesn’t like it, Arum can always put Pacquiao in with his Top Rank stable fighters Brandon Rios or Tim Bradley, and then one of them will likely finish his career by beating him in a fight that would make for less money than a Marquez-Pacquiao 5th fight.



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