By Miguel Rivera
Last week, Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain revealed that former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez could finally return to the ring on June 24th in Toluca, Mexico.
Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) has been out of the ring since May 2014, for nearly three years, when the veteran won a twelve round decision over former world champion Mike Alvarado.
Marquez has been training at the Romanza gym and preparing himself for a comeback. Nacho has been working very closely with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who this Saturday will face Saul "Canelo" Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Marquez, 43 years old, has been discussing a potential ring return for the last two years. He's been plagued with a knee problem that was lingering even before his win over Alvarado.
"I have discussed June 24, but I have to see about the opponent, the location, the money - which is ultimately an important part, but first we have to wait and see how we are," said Marquez to ESPN Deportes. "The preparation is going well, but we have to see where the location will be, the opponent and if it works for us."
Marquez admits that it's a 60-40 chance in favor of his return actually happening on the June date.
Last year, there were serious discussions to fight former champion Miguel Cotto at a catch-weight. They were unable to reach an agreement on the weight. Cotto wanted the fight to take place closer to 150-pounds, while Marquez was not willing go above the welterweight limit of 147. The two boxers are still interested in facing each other - if they can work out the weight.
Cotto is also being positioned to return on the date of June 24th, but the opponent and the location has not been finalized. Junior middleweight contender Yoshihiro Kamegai has been mentioned as the opponent of choice.