Juan Manuel Marquez's long-awaited return to the ring will take a little bit longer according to his promoter.
The Mexican star, who has been out of action for more than three years, was due to fight in August, but Fernando Beltran, who also promotes Miguel Berchelt and Juan Francisco Estrada, said now the plan is for Marquez to fight in the fall, possibly in Mexico.
"[The fight] might take place in September or October," Beltran told ESPN Deportes. "Monterrey is a possible destination [for Marquez's next fight]."
There is still no opponent for Marquez's return, but he had been hoping to fight Miguel Cotto or WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, who defeated Manny Pacquiao, Marquez's biggest rival, to win the title. Negotiations were nearing completion for Cotto vs. Marquez last year, but the fight fell through after neither fighter could agree on a weight.
Nacho Beristain, Marquez's trainer, also told ESPN Deportes that Marquez has looked well while training for the fight. Even though Beristain said Marquez has been training well, fighting in August would be too quick of a turnaround for Marquez to get ready.
“Marquez has all of the right faculties. Against Horn, the right technique would be imposed,” Beristain said. ”I’ve been watching [Marquez train] and he’s been looking super good.”
Marquez was a world champion as a featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight and junior lightweight and won the WBO International welterweight title when he faced Mike Alvarado in his last fight in 2014.
