By Rick Reeno

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum advised BoxingScene.com that he wants to match WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez against Rafael Marquez by the end of the year. Last Saturday night in California, Lopez sat ringside at Staples Center to watch Marquez dispose of Israel Vazquez in three brutal rounds. Lopez returns on July 10 in Puerto Rico with a title defense against Bernabe Concepcion.

"Marquez is still a good fighter. If Lopez is successful in July, I would certainly like to make that fight before the end of the year," Arum told BoxingScene.com.

Marquez's promoter Gary Shaw plans to explore a possible fight with IBO bantamweight champion Vic Darchinyan. Shaw and Team Darchinyan will discuss the fight in the coming days.