Rafael Marquez Prefers Toshiaki Nishioka to Yuriorkis Gamboa

Rafael Marquez has had offers to face featherweight titlist Yuriorkis Gamboa next, but the Mexican veteran is targeting top super bantamweight Toshiaki Nishioka.

"On the first of October I will look to win the junior featherweight title again in Las Vegas against the WBC titlist, Japan's Toshiaki Nishioka. ... However the fight against Gamboa is there, and it can be taken into account later."

Marquez also mentions his desire to take a fifth fight with Israel Vazquez, which comes off as... I don't even know the word. Vazquez is retired due to his long and punishing career, and the fourth fight between the two last year was a depressing farce that pleased nobody.

If Marquez can still comfortably make 122 pounds, the fight with Nishioka is definitely the more winnable between that and Gamboa. Rafael is 36 years old and while still a hell of a fighter, my mind's eye sees a determined Gamboa tearing through him in short order. Nishioka, at 34, is the top fighter in the world at 122, but he's slowing down just a little bit too, and he and Marquez could have a proper competitive fight.