By James Slater: Fresh off his ultra-exciting, early FOTY candidate victory over the always-thrilling Juan Manuel Lopez, WBO featherweight king Orlando Salido and his team are already looking towards the next big fight. Promoted by Fernando Beltran, the Mexican warrior known as “Siri” is fully deserving of a big payday, and Beltran is looking to secure one for him.
Talking to Ringtv.com, Beltran said there are three fighters he is looking at – three top fighters who, if matched against Salido, would produce “a match-maker’s dream.”
Beltran listed the three names:
“Rafael Marquez is fighting on May 5th or May 12th, and probably after that, if all goes okay, that would be a match-maker’s dream to put Rafael Marquez against Orlando Salido. Mikey Garcia is in our plans, and I think that would be a great fight and he is a great prospect-in-progress. Cameron Dunkin handles Mikey Garcia and Nonito Donaire. If he gave us Donaire, we would take that fight right away. That would also be a match-maker’s dream.”
I don’t know about you, but the possibility of either of these three match-ups is enough to get the juices flowing! Of the three potentials, I’d most love to see 36-year-old Marquez in their with Salido. The youngest of the two Hall of Fame-bound Marquez brothers, Rafael was last seen losing a decision to defending WBC 122-pound king Toshiaka Nishioka (back in October of last year), yet he showed that even in defeat he has plenty left to offer still. Marquez, 40-7(36) has won a number of fights up at featherweight before and he would have to be given a decent shot against Salido, his countryman. In fact, had this possible fight been made a couple or so years ago, Marquez would likely have been made a prohibitive favourite to win. Maybe he still can at age 36?
I’d sure love to find out. Marquez and Salido are both quintessential Mexican warriors, and yet another FOTY candidate would be likely if the two got it on.
As for Donaire, the 29-year-old Filipino has just made the move up to super-bantamweight (and must get past Cristian Mijares on July 14th before he can even think about another fight, much less another step up in weight), and he may wish to stay there for a while. Salido, though, with his all-pressure style, would arguably test “The Flash” like no-one before him. A potential Mexico Vs. The Philippines match-up, this one would be a massive event in either country. Again, I’d love to see it.
Garcia, the youngest of this particular bunch at age 24, won with some ease against Bernabe Concepcion on the Salido-Lopez II card, and he is, as Beltran states, a great prospect-in-progress. But is he quite ready for Salido?
Of the three listed potential match-ups for Salido, my personal preference would go like this:
1st, Rafael Marquez
2nd, Nonito Donaire
3rd, Mikey Garcia.
But, hey, I’d take EITHER fight!