Juan Manuel Marquez Will Not Be Fighting on July 14th

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39KOs) will not be fighting on July 14th at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. There have been disagreements over the opponent, with Marquez pushing to fight southpaw boxers like Cesar Cuenca and Mercito Gesta.

Marquez wanted a southpaw opponent to prepare for a potential fourth meeting with Manny Pacquiao in the fall. Top Rank had initially wanted to match Marquez against undefeated Brandon Rios, which the Mexican veteran rejected because Rios wasn’t a southpaw.

There were even discussions between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions to match Marquez against countryman Erik Morales, but again Marquez wasn’t too eager, telling BoxingScene.com last week that he wasn’t interested because Morales wasn’t a southpaw.

One source told BoxingScene.com that Marquez had yet to finalize an opponent – and considering the July date is only a few weeks away, there simply wasn’t enough time to properly promote a pay-per-view event in such a short time period.

MORE DETAILS TO COME…………..

 

By Keith Idec

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53113

On Friday, BoxingScene.com published an interview with WBO interim-junior welterweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39KOs). The former three division champion is scheduled to return on July 14th at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The opponent is still being determined. However, Marquez is pushing to face undefeated lightweight contender Mercito Gesta (25-0-1, 13KOs) – because Marquez believes the Filipino boxer will help him prepare for a potential fourth meeting with Manny Pacquiao in November. 

Marquez wants a southpaw opponent, with similar characteristics to Pacquiao, and he believes Gesta meets those requirements.

“The important thing is to face an opponent with the characteristics of Pacquiao. Gesta is a young fighter, with speed, and he meets the profile. When I find out my opponent, I will also define my sparring partners, looking for left handed boxers with speed. Gesta is good, undefeated, and meets the characteristics,” Marquez told BoxingScene.com.

Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum spoke to BoxingScene.com, and while he admits Marquez would rather face Gesta, the fight is extremely difficult to make – because Marquez doesn’t exactly fight for peanuts and a fight against Gesta is a tough sell on pay-per-view.

“The problem with Mercito Gesta – is how do you sell it on pay-per-view? Would he rather fight Mercito Gesta because Gesta is a lefty and he would prepare him for Pacquiao – of course, yes – but so what. How can you pay him the purse that he wants against a Gesta, because you know and I know that it’s going to be very tough for it to do business [on pay-per-view],” Arum told BoxingScene.com.

“But he knows that. One thing about Juan Manuel, he’s an educated guy and very, very smart.”

A more realistic option is former four division champion Erik Morales (52-8, 36KOs).

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Morales, has had positive discussions with Top Rank’s President, Todd duBoef, about putting together a fight with Marquez.

By Rick Reeno

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53027

Undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta is among three fighters being considered as an opponent for a fight against four-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez on July 14 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that Gesta “looked very, very good (against Oscar Cuero over whom he won by an 8th round TKO ) and he will probably fight on July 14 on our card in Cowboy Stadium.”

Responding to Marquez himself who  fueled speculation about a possible Gesta fight when he announced after a unanimous decision over victory over Sergey Fedchenko to grab the WBO junior welterweight interim title,  that he would fight a lefty next on July 14 in Texas, Arum said “Marquez will either fight (Brandon) Rios, Gesta or (Mike) Alvarado.”

Gesta’s trainer and co-manager Vince  Parra said Gesta’s team was set to discuss his July 14 fight with Top Rank and said “we are looking at a significant step up” and that Marquez was a possibility although no decisions have been made.

Reacting to the comments of TV announcers Rich Marotta and former world champion Raul Marquez that Gesta needs a couple of fights before eyeing champions such as Marquez who his an excellent counter-puncher, Parra said “styles make fights but whether it’s the next fight or the fight after I expect him to do well.”

He said Gesta would take a few days break and return to the gym in San Diego to get ready for his next fight no matter who the opponent is.

The TV commentators said Gesta “showed a little bit of everything – speed, explosive power, good footwork” and the ability to switch from his regular southpaw stance to orthodox.

However, Marotta and Marquez said Gesta needs to work on his defense and although Marotta said it was “a nice performance” they  both felt he is not yet ready for a world title fight.

Top Rank president Todd DuBoef had earlier told Bev Llorente of ABS-CBN in Las Vegas “Gesta is a terrific fight, I think he’s knocking on the title’s door” while boxingscene.com editor Rick Reeno added Gesta is “an aggressive fighter nwho is always looking to fight. He likes to come forward and he certainly has a shot in the lightweight division of getting a world title. A lot of the lightweights are moving up and it leaves a door wide open for him.”

 

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=51859

The co-feature being planned for the Juan Manuel Lopez-Orlando Salido featherweight rematch, would have Jose ‘Chelo’ González (18-0, 13 KOs) defending his WBO Latino lightweight championship against US-based Filipino Mercito Gesta (24-0-1, 12 KOs) on March 10th at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico.

“This year I hope to become a world champion and for that I’m going to prepare hard. I’m returning on March 10th, on the undercard where Juanma Lopez fights in a rematch with Orlando Salido, and we plan to do well against this undefeated Filipino and with God’s favor we’ll win and go after a world title fight,” Gonzalez said.

 

By: Rey Colon

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48453