By Miguel Rivera

If an agreement can be made on the weight, Juan Manuel Marquez would still be very interested with a retirement fight against Miguel Angel Cotto.

Last year, the two boxers were in serious discussions to make the fight for the fall. For than anything else, they were unable to overcome the obstacle of weight. Cotto was reportedly requesting a catch-weight of 150-pounds, which Marquez believed was too much of a disadvantage. Marquez stood firm on staging the fight at no higher than the welterweight limit of 147-pounds.

Cotto, who hasn't fought since losing a twelve round decision to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in November 2014, will return to the ring on February 25th against James Kirkland in Texas. That fight is taking place at catch-weight of 153-pounds, which is one pound under the junior middleweight limit.

Marquez - 43-years-old - has been out of the ring since May of 2014, when he won a twelve round decision over Mike Alvarado at The Forum in Los Angeles. Marquez is considering the possibility of retirement if he's not able to secure the right fight.

Cotto, like Marquez, is ready to walk away from boxing. He says 2017 will be his final year in the sport. The former four division world champion wants to have at least two fights, possibly three, before ending his career. 

"I would like a retirement fight, a fight where there will be some high intensity, a fight where the two boxers are already thinking about retirement. And the fight that I'm referring to is the one between Marquez and Miguel Cotto," Marquez said.

"It would be a great fight. The legacy of Cotto has been great, he's been very good. Everyone knows what we've accomplished and I think it would be a great retirement fight."

Cotto has a record of 40-5 and 33 knockouts, and Marquez is 56-7-1 and 40KO's.