By James Slater: So, who should Mexican legend and P-4-P fighter Juan Manuel Marquez face next? Plans are underway for the amazing 38-year-old to fight next on July 14th, on a big show planned for Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
Fresh off his dominant, near shut-out points win over Sergey Fedchenko, for the vacant interim WBO 140-pound strap, “Dinamita” has a number of options for the planned July bout. As we all know, it was supposed to be (and maybe still will be) Brandon Rios Vs. Marquez in July, but will this fight sell now? Fans, experts and fellow fighters the world over are still trying to get over the shock, the stink and the just plain bad taste the split decision verdict Rios was “given” over the obviously superior Richard Abril caused.
In light of how he was not worthy of the win he was given (and the fact that Rios is not honest enough to admit he lost on Saturday night), I don’t think “Bam Bam” deserves a big-money shot at Marquez. Abril won’t get the fight either (as he has no plans to move up from 135, where he remains an interim champ), but the Cuban is more deserving than is Rios – at least in my opinion.
Now that Rios’ stock has fallen (which doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t get rewarded with a high profile, high paying fight with the Mexican star), the other three guys that have popped up as potential rivals for Marquez look all the more interesting. Mike Alvarado, a points win over a game Mauricio Herrera (in what was the action fight of the night at Mandalay Bay) is in the frame, as is Mercito Gesta, who stopped Oscar Cuero in the 8th on Saturday night. Also, and the least likely to get the fight, is fellow Mexican Erik Morales.
Both Alvarado and Gesta are unbeaten, and “Mile High,” as Alvarado is known, looks ready for the big fights right about now. Gesta, a lightweight, needs more experience, but there is talk that he may get the Marquez fight; these rumours started after Marquez said on T.V that he wanted to fight a lefty next. As we all know, the ultimate goal for Marquez is a fourth fight with arch-rival Manny Pacquiao, who is, of course, a southpaw. Maybe Marquez will “use” Gesta as a tune-up for that fourth go with Pac-Man?
Personally, in terns of what I think would be the most exciting fight that could be made, I’d like to see Marquez rumble with Alvarado. Sure, Marquez would have a great shot at taking Alvarado to school, but 31-year-old Alvardo is both exiting and hard working; and he has earned a big fight.
Morales? This all-Mexican showdown should have happened a long time ago, and some people are hoping the fight will still go ahead, in a better-late-than-never scenario. But how much, if anything, has “El Terrible” got left? Badly beaten by Danny Garcia last time out, Morales is pondering retirement. Even at this last stage in his career, however, Morales can still shift tickets.
If he were to get it on with Marquez in July, “El Terrible” would probably prove attractive enough for a vast number of fans to want to buy a ticket.
Of the four names being mentioned thus far as possibilities for Marquez – one of the most amazingly well preserved lightweights/light-welterweights in history – I think “Dinamita” beats ‘em all.