Sunday, March 23, 2008 Don't just sit around: Arum to Marquez
INSTEAD of pondering on his recent defeat last March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and chasing newly crowned World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao for a second rematch, Juan Manuel Marquez should rather challenge the remaining titleholders in the super featherweight division, like World Boxing Organization titlist Joan Guzman and World Boxing Association titleholder Edwin Valero, Top Rank Promotions Bob Arum advised.
Arum thinks the former WBC champion should not just sit around and wait for Pacquio, who will open a new quest in his boxing career as a 135-pounder. He thinks Marquez should challenge the rest of the champions in the 130-pound category. Arum even thought that a fight with either Guzman or the knockout artist Valero would be good match ups.
“I keep saying this but I said it before Saturday’s bout and I will say it once again, and that is that Juan Manuel is an exciting fighter. There is no reason for him to just sit around while Manny is moving up in weight, which he is, against David,” said Arum in a report posted at boxingconfidential.com. “What Marquez should do is to fight Guzman, fight Valero or fight them both. Look, it’s not like the rest of the 130-pounders are all tomato cans. I’d say that Marquez against Guzman is a good matchup of styles and I can say the same thing for Valero against Marquez,” he added.
For Guzman, a fight with Marquez is in his sights along with fellow titleholders Pacquiao and Valero. “No doubt,” said Guzman manager Jose Nunez, “We just resigned with Sycuan and we want the most meaningful bouts we can get so that includes Pacman, Marquez, Valero and anyone else. But Priority 1 is Alex Arthur and we’ve got to go overseas and take care of that business first.”
Guzman is set to defend his crown against Arthur on May 3 in Scotland, while Valero will also defend his belt against Israel Hector Enrique Perez on June 15 in Japan.
Both the Dominican Republic’s Guzman (28-0, 17 KO’s) and Venezuela’s Valero (23-0, 23 KO’s) are undefeated in their professional records, but are still untested because they haven’t fought big names in boxing like the former IBF and WBA featherweight and former WBC super featherweight champion Marquez.
Meanwhile, David Diaz is just waiting for Pacquiao to heal the wounds that he acquired from Marquez and will start training at the end of the month.
“We’re just waiting back here about Manny’s cuts and how much healing time they need. We should know something in the next couple of days. Other than that I’m just looking forward to spending the holiday weekend with my family. I’m doing fine, my bruises are healing and I’m ready to start camp at the end of this month if the fight stays on schedule,” Diaz said in a report posted at boxingscene.com.
Pacquaio is set to fight the WBC lightweight kingpin on June 28 at the same venue where he won the WBC super featherweight crown, the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (EKA)
