By Mark Vester
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times that his company will do everything possible to resign WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. The Mexican star's contract with Golden Boy has expired but Schaefer has a 30-day window to resign Marquez, and Golden Boy retains the right to match the best offer that Marquez gets from an opposing promoter through Feb. 27, 2012. Although it's very unlikely that Golden Boy will be able to match the financial package connected with a third Manny Pacquiao fight.
Insiders are expecting Marquez to follow in the same path as Shane Mosley, who left Golden Boy to secure a fight with Pacquiao, which takes place on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao is promoted by Golden Boy's bitter rival, Top Rank.
Schaefer told the paper that an associate of Top Rank has been trying to persuade Marquez to jump over. According to Schaefer, Marquez recently told him that he's willing to sign a new contract with Golden Boy - but it has to "exclude a fight with Pacquiao."
"That shows you something is happening without our knowledge," Schaefer told The LA Times.
Arum denied that his company had any conversations with Marquez, or has any interest in signing the boxer to a promotional agreement.
"This is innuendo … and talking about me like this is getting into dangerous ground," Arum said. Marquez "can sign with [Golden Boy] for the next 20 years as long as he has a release to fight Pacquiao, which it sounds like what he wants to do. Why do I want to sign him if he does that? The whole thing makes no sense. He may want an out to directly deal with me for the Pacquiao fight. That's the point of all this. I'm not looking to promote these guys, Shane or Juan Manuel Marquez."