By Miguel Rivera

BoxingScene.com had recently broken the news that former belt holder David Diaz "priced himself out" for the opportunity to fight WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a junior welterweight bout on July 16 in Mexico. Marquez wants to have an interim-fight before his third clash with Manny Pacquiao on November 12 in Las Vegas.

Sources with knowledge of their discussions have advised BoxingScene that both sides were far apart on the final purse figure. Marquez Promotions made an initial offer of $100,000 dollars - to which Diaz's manager Jim Strickland countered back with a demand for $300,000. As their talks continued, Marquez's side raised their offer to $150,000 but Diaz refused to take the fight for any less than $250,000. Diaz wanted a figure that was close to his fighting purse for the bout with Erik Morales in 2007, which was $350,000.

When Diaz submitted his final demand of $250K, Marquez's side emailed Strickland to inform him that Diaz was out of the running, and also to let him know that a search was being conducted for a new opponent.