By Miguel Rivera
Trainer Nacho Beristain is looking forward to Juan Manuel Marquez's returns on May 17th, when he faces Mike Alvarado (34-2, 23KOs) at the Forum in Los Angeles, California. It will be the first fight for Marquez (55-7-1, 40KOs) since a twelve round split decision loss to WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley last October.
"He is a difficult opponent for a fighter like Juan. [Alvarado] is a tremendous puncher. It's ideal for Juan to provide a big fight to the public, but [this one is] dangerous, because [Alvarado] is young and strong," said Nacho.
If Marquez wins, Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, has already confirmed that he would fall in line for the winner of the April 12th rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Bradley.
Nacho is not very supportive of a fifth Pacquiao-Marquez meeting. He would rather have things end like they did in 2012, when Marquez knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round of the fourth fight.
“What Juan Manuel wants more than anything is this [fifth] championship [at welterweight], and that's why the name of Pacquiao is once again [being discussed]. But I believe that if he gets past [Alvarado], Juan Manuel can fight for [a world title from] another sanctioning body. There is no reason for him to face Pacquiao again, who he already conquered with that tremendous knockout," Nacho said.
