By Mark Vester

After Juan Manuel Marquez stopped Juan Diaz at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday night, he called for a fight with the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. Marquez says Manny Pacquiao will not accept his challenge for a third bout, so he wants Mayweather instead. Oscar De La Hoya, who lost a close decision to Mayweather in 2007, doesn't think Floyd will accept the challenge of Marquez because the Mexican fighter is too dangerous.

De La Hoya promotes Marquez under his Golden Boy Promotions company. He recently tried to make a fight between Mayweather and Golden Boy partner Shane Mosley. Mayweather wanted a $20 million dollar guarantee for the fight. He will probably want the same amount for Marquez. De La Hoya says Mayweather is looking for an easy fight and will return, but not for Marquez or Mosley.

“He will be back, absolutely. He will be back. If he wants to fight a Shane Mosley or a Juan Manuel Marquez, or any of our other fighters, they’re right here waiting for him. Juan Manuel is a dangerous, dangerous fighter for Mayweather, and I don’t see him taking it because he is so dangerous. Just like he won’t take Mosley. Absolutely, I have no doubt he is [looking for safe fights],” De La Hoya told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports!

Bernard Hopkins, another Golden Boy partner, told Iole that Marquez is probably the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

“He was landing those sneaky right hands in there when Diaz was throwing them wide left hooks. He hurt him two times in the fight, I think. Then he started sitting down on his punches a little more. And listen, these guys were using a lot of energy, and that made a big difference," Hopkins said.

“You can be smart when you have all your energy, but the thing that separates the good fighters from the great ones is if you can be smart when you’re tired. That’s when your punches have to be accurate and you can’t afford to waste anything. And that’s where Marquez is professional and [experience] came into play.”

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com