Boxnoticias is reporting that Rafael Marquez has split with trainer/manager Nacho Beristain, feeling that Beristain was unable to give him proper attention. Marquez is getting set to prepare for Israel Vazquez, as the two will meet for a fourth time on May 22 in Los Angeles.
Marquez will now be managed by Fernando Beltran Sr., whose son Fernando Jr. is an active fighter.
All in all, Marquez is losing a guy with a great reputation who I believe may well be getting past his prime as a trainer. Beristain has also been long regarded as a pretty horrible manager for the Marquez brothers.
The move is rather surprising overall, but I can't say as though I'm shocked or anything. Marquez says he was "practically training himself," and at 34 years old, he probably knows that this run could be his last. He's had a lot of tough fights in his career, and certainly isn't getting any younger.
Beristain's clients have not fared well in recent notable fights. He trained Oscar de la Hoya in his horrible loss to Manny Pacquiao, trained Juan Manuel Marquez in the shutout loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr., and trained Jorge Arce for a one-sided loss to Simphiwe Nongqayi.