By Miguel Rivera

Freddie Roach, who trains Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto, is disappointed that a deal wasn't reached for a fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Cotto was hoping to face Marquez in a battle of former four division world champions.

The two fighters were unable to to reach an agreement on the weight - which is the main factor in the negotiations falling through. Marquez was very firm that he wouldn't fight above the welterweight limit of 147-pounds. Cotto wanted something a little closer to 150-pounds.

When their negotiations fell through, Cotto signed on to face James Kirkland at a catch-weight of 153-pounds on February 25 in Texas. The fight will headline an HBO Pay-Per-View event.

Marquez, who has been inactive since May of 2014 when he won a twelve round decision over Mike Alvarado, was very interested in fighting Cotto and he still has interest in doing that fight. But age and inactivity may forced him to retire before that ever happens.

Roach wanted payback. In 2012, Marquez pulled off a brutal knockout victory over Manny Pacquiao, who is Roach's star fighter. That was the fourth meeting between the two boxers. After that knockout win, Marquez had no interest in facing Pacquiao for a fifth time - which prevents Roach and Pacquiao from evening the score. 

"The first choice was Juan Manuel Marquez. I felt that it was a good fight for us and the world wanted to see it. Particularly because of the way Marquez beat Manny Pacquiao, I was a bit disappointed that it did not happen. [Kirkland was who] Roc Nation was able to get us, but we can not overlook him because one punch can change everything, and Kirkland is coming back from a knockout loss. We have to make a good fight because James has the power to finish it by knockout," Roach told Carlos Gonzalez.