By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was advised by promoter Gary Shaw that featherweight contender Rafael Marquez will return on September 18 on Showtime. The target opponent being discussed is WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez, who defends his title on July 10 against Bernabe Concepcion in Puerto Rico. Marquez is co-promoted by Zanfer's Fernando Beltran, who shares numbers fighters with Lopez's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Both Shaw and Beltran believe a deal can get done for a fight with Lopez. Marquez-Juanma is being targeted for the same Showtime televised date as the Super Six clash between Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch. If the two fights are made for the same date, I would expect Showtime to put together a split-feed show with a delayed edition of Froch-Abraham, which all depends on the country and time difference of where Froch-Abraham will land.
