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Blogging After The Bell: Marquez takes aim at surprise opponent Story Highlights
Though expected to take on Pacquiao again, Marquez is eyeing Ricky Hatton
Ruiz-Valuev is still in the news, but it looks like Ruiz isn't up for another rematch
De La Hoya has his doubters, but he has kept boxing relevant in recent years
After Juan Manuel Marquez put on one of his best performances Saturday, he turned his attention to Ricky Hatton Hometown:
You are Juan Manuel Marquez. You just turned in arguably the finest performance of your professional career when you systematically destroyed lightweight champion Joel Casamayor last Saturday night. You have catapulted yourself to the top of every pound-for-pound rankings and have the boxing world buzzing about a potential third fight with your nemesis, Manny Pacquiao, once Pacquiao finishes his business with Oscar De La Hoya.
What do you do?
You start talking about a fight with Ricky Hatton.
Huh?
Surprised? I was. When I placed a call to Marquez's co-promoter and right hand man, Jaime Quintana, I didn't expect to hear any revelations. Marquez has been stalking Pacquiao for more than a year, so despite the recent rhetoric to the contrary, I expected Quintana -- and everyone else in Marquez's camp -- to tell me that Pacquiao was still their first, last and only choice for an opponent.
Not so. According to Quintana, Marquez has shifted his attention to Hatton, the reigning IBF and IBO light welterweight champion. Quintana and Golden Boy have had internal discussions about matching Hatton (who also fights under Golden Boy banner) against Marquez at 140 pounds.
"Flat out, Pacquiao is afraid to fight Juan Manuel," said Quintana. "He doesn't want the fight. So Juan Manuel is moving forward."
Quintana's comments are reinforced by statements made by Golden Boy execs.
"There's no way (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum and Pacquiao are going to fight him again," Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said. "I don't think Pacquiao wants anything to do with Juan Manuel Marquez any more. Juan Manuel Marquez will fight anyone. He's never turned down anyone. Have you ever heard him turn down any opponent?"
For the record, Pacquiao left the door open for a third fight with Marquez during an interview with reporters in the Philippines this weekend.
"I'm willing to fight him anytime," said Pacquiao. "But since I will be the promoter, he must first accept all the conditions I will ask, including a smaller purse [for him]. "If he agrees to the conditions, I know he is fighting for honor and I will fight him. If not, he's only after getting a big purse."
Statements made by boxing promoters have to be taken with an entire box of salt. If Pacquiao decides tomorrow that he wants another shot at Marquez, it is a fight that can be made in a day. But if it's true that Marquez has moved on, Hatton is an interesting choice.
The most appealing part of a showdown with Hatton is that it would easily be Marquez's most lucrative fight to date, which is a major factor for a fighter who in the past has made some questionable business decisions. Hatton is one of the most popular British fighters in history and a mega fight with Marquez could easily draw 50,000-60,000 fans in Manchester, England. Marquez could earn upwards of $5 million for the fight.
If he can find a way to beat Hatton, who still has to get by Paulie Malignaggi in November, Marquez would set him up for even more lucrative paydays. Quintana didn't rule out Marquez moving up to the 147-pound welterweight division, an idea that seemed preposterous a year ago but one that now has legs after Marquez didn't seem to lose any of his power at 135 pounds when he handed Casamayor the first KO loss of his career.
The downside? There is a very good chance Marquez could find himself staggeringly overmatched. The prevailing image of Hatton, for many people, is the beating he took at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr., a year ago. But Hatton had to move up to welterweight for that fight and his straight-ahead style doesn't work as well when the man in front of him is physically superior.
But at 140 pounds, Hatton is a dangerous fighter. He has tremendous punching power (31 of his 44 wins have come by knockout) and would test Marquez's chin, which has been considered suspect in previous fights.
But if Marquez is willing to risk a potentially devastating loss for the promise of an unprecedented payday, Hatton is the right fight.
Though expected to take on Pacquiao again, Marquez is eyeing Ricky Hatton
Ruiz-Valuev is still in the news, but it looks like Ruiz isn't up for another rematch
De La Hoya has his doubters, but he has kept boxing relevant in recent years
After Juan Manuel Marquez put on one of his best performances Saturday, he turned his attention to Ricky Hatton Hometown:
You are Juan Manuel Marquez. You just turned in arguably the finest performance of your professional career when you systematically destroyed lightweight champion Joel Casamayor last Saturday night. You have catapulted yourself to the top of every pound-for-pound rankings and have the boxing world buzzing about a potential third fight with your nemesis, Manny Pacquiao, once Pacquiao finishes his business with Oscar De La Hoya.
What do you do?
You start talking about a fight with Ricky Hatton.
Huh?
Surprised? I was. When I placed a call to Marquez's co-promoter and right hand man, Jaime Quintana, I didn't expect to hear any revelations. Marquez has been stalking Pacquiao for more than a year, so despite the recent rhetoric to the contrary, I expected Quintana -- and everyone else in Marquez's camp -- to tell me that Pacquiao was still their first, last and only choice for an opponent.
Not so. According to Quintana, Marquez has shifted his attention to Hatton, the reigning IBF and IBO light welterweight champion. Quintana and Golden Boy have had internal discussions about matching Hatton (who also fights under Golden Boy banner) against Marquez at 140 pounds.
"Flat out, Pacquiao is afraid to fight Juan Manuel," said Quintana. "He doesn't want the fight. So Juan Manuel is moving forward."
Quintana's comments are reinforced by statements made by Golden Boy execs.
"There's no way (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum and Pacquiao are going to fight him again," Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said. "I don't think Pacquiao wants anything to do with Juan Manuel Marquez any more. Juan Manuel Marquez will fight anyone. He's never turned down anyone. Have you ever heard him turn down any opponent?"
For the record, Pacquiao left the door open for a third fight with Marquez during an interview with reporters in the Philippines this weekend.
"I'm willing to fight him anytime," said Pacquiao. "But since I will be the promoter, he must first accept all the conditions I will ask, including a smaller purse [for him]. "If he agrees to the conditions, I know he is fighting for honor and I will fight him. If not, he's only after getting a big purse."
Statements made by boxing promoters have to be taken with an entire box of salt. If Pacquiao decides tomorrow that he wants another shot at Marquez, it is a fight that can be made in a day. But if it's true that Marquez has moved on, Hatton is an interesting choice.
The most appealing part of a showdown with Hatton is that it would easily be Marquez's most lucrative fight to date, which is a major factor for a fighter who in the past has made some questionable business decisions. Hatton is one of the most popular British fighters in history and a mega fight with Marquez could easily draw 50,000-60,000 fans in Manchester, England. Marquez could earn upwards of $5 million for the fight.
If he can find a way to beat Hatton, who still has to get by Paulie Malignaggi in November, Marquez would set him up for even more lucrative paydays. Quintana didn't rule out Marquez moving up to the 147-pound welterweight division, an idea that seemed preposterous a year ago but one that now has legs after Marquez didn't seem to lose any of his power at 135 pounds when he handed Casamayor the first KO loss of his career.
The downside? There is a very good chance Marquez could find himself staggeringly overmatched. The prevailing image of Hatton, for many people, is the beating he took at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr., a year ago. But Hatton had to move up to welterweight for that fight and his straight-ahead style doesn't work as well when the man in front of him is physically superior.
But at 140 pounds, Hatton is a dangerous fighter. He has tremendous punching power (31 of his 44 wins have come by knockout) and would test Marquez's chin, which has been considered suspect in previous fights.
But if Marquez is willing to risk a potentially devastating loss for the promise of an unprecedented payday, Hatton is the right fight.
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