Erik Morales Says Juan Manuel Marquez Not Interested in a Fight

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 11:30 AM EST in Boxing News Analysis

Erik Morales isn't looking for a big fight in January. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

In an appearance on BoxingScene.com's Boxing Lab radio show last night, WBC junior welterweight titlist Erik Morales said his January return to the ring won't be against a notable opponent, and that he plans to use the fight as a test to see if he can comfortably make the lightweight limit at age 35.

[ Related: Morales to Return in January ]

As for his 140-pound title, surely Morales will be given the full year to defend that wasn't granted to Timothy Bradley, the fighter stripped of the belt that was all but handed over to Morales in September. So there's no need to worry about that.

A run at lightweight would have the veteran warrior targeting fights with WBC titlist Antonio DeMarco, who won the vacant belt on October 15 with a terrific victory against Jorge Linares, and lineal champion Juan Manuel Marquez, which is probably the biggest fight out there for Morales, and may be the biggest for Marquez outside of another bout with Manny Pacquiao.

Morales had an interesting quote regarding Marquez, too:

"Truly the fight interests me but it doesn’t interest [Marquez]. He doesn’t have plans to fight me" explained the Mexican legend. "He doesn’t like the idea. He knows fighting me would be a difficult [fight]. Very difficult. And I don’t think he’s willing anymore to take difficult fights."

This is, uh, some statement given the recent levels of competition for the two. Since Morales' comeback in 2010, here's his list of opponents:

Jose Alfaro
Willie Limond
Francisco Lorenzo
Marcos Maidana
Pablo Cesar Cano

In that same time period, Marquez has fought Juan Diaz, Michael Katsidis, Likar Ramos and Manny Pacquiao. Prior to those fights, and going back to 2007, Marquez had fought Marco Antonio Barrera, Rocky Juarez, Pacquiao, Joel Casamayor, Diaz, and Floyd Mayweather.

Any idea that Marquez is avoiding stiff competition is frankly ludicrous. If both are going to fight on in 2012, as it seems they will, I do hope we see that fight, either at 135 or 140, whatever weight works best for them. It would be long overdue, but both still bring it when the situation calls for bringing it, and I have no doubt it would be a tremendous fight.

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It looks like Marquez-Pacquiao IV isn’t happening, so if Marquez doesn’t fight either Brandon Rios or Erik Morales next he might as well retire.

by ham_napkin on Nov 30, 2011 12:00 PM EST reply actions

What about fights against: Robert Guerrero, Marcos Maidana, Lucas Matthysse, Antonio DeMarco, Humberto Soto, Ricky Burns, Danny Garcia, Mike Alvarado, Timothy Bradley? Marquez would have a lot of interesting options, IMO.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Tough call for JMM. You’re right, he does have a lot of options for appealing fights. I’d love to see that matchup with Maidana, the DeMarco one, or the Morales too. Out of those, obviously the Morales fight would be the biggest spectacle if it was done in Mexico and the biggest payday I would think.

by KidSleez on Nov 30, 2011 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

If JMM-Pac IV isn’t a go, then JMM vs Morales is a natural.

It’s the only fight between the big “three” that hasn’t happened. It would be a huge event, and we fans would love it.

by DPlainview on Nov 30, 2011 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

big four

Morales, Pacquiao, Barrera, Marquez

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

Was only including the Mexicans

by DPlainview on Nov 30, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

racist

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

I’m honestly not that interested in Morales-Marquez. The two are simply in very different classes at the moment, and there’s no reason to have it aside from historical neatness and the fact that it’s the probably the only non-Pacquiao payday left for Marquez (and even there, who knows how lucrative that fight really is in 2011).

by bachwards on Nov 30, 2011 12:41 PM EST reply actions

I think the style matchup is good and they wind up going to war, especially if they put the fight in Mexico where it belongs.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. Morales still has something left in the tank and it would be an interesting fight. I’d watch it.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Nov 30, 2011 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

I’d watch this fight cuz Morales even though not being what he was still doesn’t shy away from contact and he’d be there to stand and trade. I hope that a Rios vs Marquez fight does get made at some point next yr because I think that fight would be highly entertaining.

by TheDreadedMarco on Nov 30, 2011 2:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions