By Lem Satterfield
Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, has denied accusations by rival CEO, Richard Schaefer, of Golden Boy Promotions, that his organization has conspired to steal Mexican three-division titlist and WBO and WBA lightweight champion, Juan Manuel Marquez, appraching him with the goal of securing a third bout against Top Rank Promotions' eight-division king Manny Pacquiao.
Schaefer told BoxingScene.com last week that he has been working with Arum's stepson, Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, in the hopes of bringing to fruition a trilogy between Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs).
Marquez has battled to a disputed draw, and, through a split-decision loss, respectively, against Pacquiao in May of 2004, and, March of 2008.
Schaefer told BoxingScene.com that he would be meeting this week in Mexico with Marquez to not only address the status of their contract with one another, but also, Marquez's desire for a third bout with Pacquiao.
"I have no idea what he's talking about," said Arum, in response to Schaefer's assertion that he has made contact with Marquez in an effort to lure him away. "I have not communicated with Juan Manuel Marquez directly or indirectly since the second fight with Manny Pacquiao, and that, of course, was years ago."
Although Schaefer acknowledged that Marquez's contract with Golden Boy Promotions is nearing its end, he contended that Marquez has not dealt honorably within its terms.
Schaefer said that there is a 30-day window during which Golden Boy Promotions can resign Marquez, adding that the company has the right, through Feb. 27, 2012, to match the best offer that Marquez receives from an opposing promoter.
"Obviously, they [Top Rank] know that we have an existing contract with him [Marquez,]" said Schaefer. "I am actually in discussions with Todd duBoef about a potential Paquiao-Marquez fight, and that Juan Manuel Marquez should tell me what kind of deal structure he is looking for and that I would communicate that with Todd duBoef."
In the meantime, however, Schaefer said that Top Rank Promotions has attempted to steal Marquez through ally and Zanfer Promotions' President, Fernando Beltran, who co-promotes Mexican ex-champion Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), and, Mexican junior middleweight and middleweight prospect Julio Cesar Chavez (41-0-1, 30 KOs), with Top Rank.
"Juan Manuel Marquez had told us during a meeting sometime late last year when we were in our offices...that he had been approached by Juan Carlos, who is the nephew or something of Fernando Beltran, or who is like Beltran's scout, or, his agent down there in Mexico in their hunt for fighters," said Schaefer.
"But Juan Manuel Marquez said that he had been told that they could get the Manny Pacquiao fight for him if he would not be with Golden Boy Promotions. In fact, Marquez had asked us if it would be okay if he could talk to them," said Schaefer. "So, you know, there is no question that Zanfer Promotions and Fernando Beltran have reached out to Juan Manuel Marquez, and I don't think that Zanfer and Beltran can deliver a Manny Pacquiao fight unless they are authorized to do so by Top Rank."
Arum reiterated, however, that he has been concentrating on Pacquiao's May 7 defense of his WBO welterweight belt opposite Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
"If Mexican promoters have been talking to Marquez or not talking to Marquez, then I have no idea whether that's true or not. Obviously, if some promoter is talking to Marquez, then he wants to latch onto Marquez so that he can pick up some bread if Marquez ends up fighting Manny Pacquiao. That's understandable," said Arum.
"But we've got our hands full with Shane Mosley," said Arum. "We're concentrating on the Mosley fight, and we're not going to get ahead of ourselves and pick another opponent yet. Right now, I don't have a go-ahead from Manny to do that, and I'm not talking to Manny about another opponent."