I hope this is not true

Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Erik Morales
April 13, 2009 by Edgar Gonzalez

Just as Felipe Leon predicted in his last In the Squared Circle, current WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez more than likely will face three divisional champion Erik “Terrible” Morales of Tijuana, MX, in the fall according to Esto.com.mx.

Marquez’s manager Nacho Beristain felt compelled to squash the rumors coming out of Venezuela that said newly crowned WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero was the next opponent for Marquez. Beristain stated that Marquez would reappear in September and that his next opponent will be Morales.

Beristain explained that Marquez is not interested in Valero since the Venezuelan is not in the plans of his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.

According to Beristain, Juan Manuel is ready to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. but the negotiations for that bout have hit a stalemate because Mayweather was asking for Marquez to go up to welterweight which would be impossible for the Mexico City fighter. Juan Manuel was willing to go up to the junior welterweight limit of 140 lbs. but not more.

Since both parties can not come to terms, Marquez’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya has another option: to face Erik Morales, one of the biggest ticket sellers in recent years.