After losing a controversial majority decision against his great rival Manny Pacquiao, Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez is now looking for a tune-up fight in his hometown of Mexico City in March.
Following the tune-up match, Marquez will then set his sights on a fourth title belt in as many weight classes by targeting American boxer Lamont Peterson.
"We want Lamont Peterson. We want to fight in Mexico first, and that would mean a lot in Mexico for him to fight in his home country, before his fans," Marquez's manager, Fernando Beltran, told RingTV.com.
"Right after that, we really want to go and fight Lamont Peterson," he added.
Beltran said they still want to pursue another fight against Pacquiao, but it will come after the tune-up and the Peterson bout.
Marquez and Peterson are both included in the short-list of potential Pacquiao opponents, along with Timothy Bradley Jr. and Miguel Cotto. But recent reports have indicated that Pacquiao may be leaning towards a rematch against the Puerto Rican Cotto after negotiations for a mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell through once more.
Marquez told RingTV that he wants to fight Pacquiao for the fourth time, but if neither he nor Peterson is chosen as the Filipino boxer's next opponent, he will then take a tune-up bout before challenging Peterson at the junior welterweight division.
"I would like a fight with Lamont Peterson for my fourth title.. Lamont Peterson is a great fighter because he won over Amir Khan, who is another good fighter," Marquez said.
If Marquez ends up defeating Peterson for a junior welterweight belt, he becomes only the third Mexican boxer to win four championships in four different divisions.
Peterson, meanwhile, became the new IBF and WBA junior welterweight champion after defeating Khan last December in a controversial match.
Beltran said Peterson will present a great stylistic match-up for Marquez.
"I think that Peterson is a very good fighter who stays in front of you. He throws a lot of punches and he's a very experienced guy. Styles make fights, and I really think that it will be really tremendous match-up," he said.
Arum told RingTV that he will discuss the potential Marquez-Peterson clash with the fighters' managers once everything is settled for Pacquiao's next fight.
"I want to make it plain that I haven't talked to Marquez about it, and I haven't talked to (Peterson's manager) Barry Hunter about it. But I think that it would be a tremendous fight," he said.
"I would love to make that match if one of them is not selected to fight Manny," Arum added.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/01/22/12/marquez-wants-tune-bout-then-peterson
Following the tune-up match, Marquez will then set his sights on a fourth title belt in as many weight classes by targeting American boxer Lamont Peterson.
"We want Lamont Peterson. We want to fight in Mexico first, and that would mean a lot in Mexico for him to fight in his home country, before his fans," Marquez's manager, Fernando Beltran, told RingTV.com.
"Right after that, we really want to go and fight Lamont Peterson," he added.
Beltran said they still want to pursue another fight against Pacquiao, but it will come after the tune-up and the Peterson bout.
Marquez and Peterson are both included in the short-list of potential Pacquiao opponents, along with Timothy Bradley Jr. and Miguel Cotto. But recent reports have indicated that Pacquiao may be leaning towards a rematch against the Puerto Rican Cotto after negotiations for a mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell through once more.
Marquez told RingTV that he wants to fight Pacquiao for the fourth time, but if neither he nor Peterson is chosen as the Filipino boxer's next opponent, he will then take a tune-up bout before challenging Peterson at the junior welterweight division.
"I would like a fight with Lamont Peterson for my fourth title.. Lamont Peterson is a great fighter because he won over Amir Khan, who is another good fighter," Marquez said.
If Marquez ends up defeating Peterson for a junior welterweight belt, he becomes only the third Mexican boxer to win four championships in four different divisions.
Peterson, meanwhile, became the new IBF and WBA junior welterweight champion after defeating Khan last December in a controversial match.
Beltran said Peterson will present a great stylistic match-up for Marquez.
"I think that Peterson is a very good fighter who stays in front of you. He throws a lot of punches and he's a very experienced guy. Styles make fights, and I really think that it will be really tremendous match-up," he said.
Arum told RingTV that he will discuss the potential Marquez-Peterson clash with the fighters' managers once everything is settled for Pacquiao's next fight.
"I want to make it plain that I haven't talked to Marquez about it, and I haven't talked to (Peterson's manager) Barry Hunter about it. But I think that it would be a tremendous fight," he said.
"I would love to make that match if one of them is not selected to fight Manny," Arum added.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/01/22/12/marquez-wants-tune-bout-then-peterson
