By Jhonny Gonzalez
WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has spoken out about the recent rumblings having to do with his promotional situation with Golden Boy Promotions. Marquez's contract with Golden Boy is set to expire in the near future. Golden Boy was attempting to finalize a fight between Marquez and Erik Morales for April 9 in Las Vegas. After the fight appeared to be on the verge of being made, the unexpected word came down that Marquez took a pass on the fight.
Marquez said he was willing to take the fight with Morales, but while he was trying to negotiate the terms for a fight with Morales, he was also negotiating a new promotional deal with Golden Boy, and while all of this was going on - he was trying to begin his training camp for the April fight. In the end, Marquez felt that his mental state was too focused on contract negotiations with Golden Boy. He wasn't mentally focused on the fight and felt the smart thing to do was to walk away from it.
"I was trying to negotiate the economic and contractual situation with Golden Boy, but then we couldn't reach an agreement. I can't train and at the same time involve myself in negotiations and stay focused on the fight. These are two very different things. We were already arriving at the late hour and we couldn't reach an agreement. Then I told them the fight wasn't going to happen because I wasn't focused on it," Marquez said.
