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While boxing fans are highly unlikely to ever see the much anticipated bout between Brandon Rios and Yuriorkis Gamboa following Gamboa's backing out of the bout, it looks like we may get an even bigger lightweight bout featuring Rios. ESPN is reporting that Top Rank is in talks to bring a bout between Rios and top ranked lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez to Cowboys Stadium.
From the ESPN article:
Dallas Cowboys officials are in talks with promotional firm Top Rank about bringing a boxing match to Cowboys Stadium, tentatively scheduled for July 14.
Bob Arum, president of Top Rank, said he would like to bring Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez to face Brandon Rios for a possible junior welterweight title fight. The fight is contingent upon Marquez and Rios each winning their fights April 14 -- Marquez's in Mexico City and Rios' in Las Vegas.
Rios headlines the pay-per-view against Richard Abril while Marquez faces Sergey Fedchenko.
Top Rank returning to Cowboy Stadium has been a sort of vanity project. There have been a number of ideas floated for the return to the stadium, including the idea of a Mexico vs. Philippines card.
A bout between Nonito Donaire and Cristian Mijares is already planned for the July 14 event and would likely be slid into the co-headline slot behind the Rios/Marquez bout.
Arum has been talking about bringing this fight to Cowboy Stadium for about a week now, so they're clearly serious about making it happen. It's just about if Marquez is completely willing to risk maybe losing whatever shot he has at fighting Manny Pacquiao in the fall.