Juan Manuel Marquez and Nonito Donaire could co-headline a show at Cowboys Stadium on July 14. (Photos by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Top Rank is considering a big Cowboys Stadium show on July 14 featuring Juan Manuel Marquez and Nonito Donaire in a "Mexico vs Philippines" theme show, reports Rick Reeno of BoxingScene.com.
Right now, the tentative plan for Marquez is a return on April 21 in Mexico in a tune-up, possibly against powerless Cesar Cuenca of Argentina, and then the July 14 date. Donaire was reportedly being set for a June 16 return on HBO, but that may be changed.
Golden Boy did a couple shows like this a few years back with the Mexico vs Philippines theme on a smaller scale, and they were pretty fun. Top Rank, of course, had their "Latin Fury" and "Pinoy Power" pay-per-view series, and both were successful with lower expectations, which is sort of what this would be: A super-charged Latin Fury/Pinoy Power type of show, probably with HBO backing it.
The idea for now, says Reeno, would be Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KO) returning to the 135-pound division and defending his lineal championship and whatever belts he still has against Filipino prospect Mercito Gesta (24-0-1, 12 KO). The 24-year-old Gesta is a quality prospect who, of course, draws comparisons to Manny Pacquiao because he's left-handed and Filipino. He signed a four-year deal with Top Rank last year.
Donaire (28-1, 18 KO) would potentially defend his WBO super bantamweight title against Victor Terrazas (32-2-1, 18 KO). Terrazas is coming off of a very good performance in an upset of Fernando Montiel on November 19, and went 4-0 last year. He's risen up the ranks as a legitimate contender and would fit the role here very nicely.
WBO flyweight titlist Brian Viloria (30-3, 17 KO) could also be featured on the card. Viloria, 31, is currently slated to face Omar Nino on March 31 (April 1 in the Philippines). That will be the third fight between the two -- Nino upset Viloria in August 2006, handing Viloria his first loss, and the two went to a majority draw three months later on the Pacquiao vs Morales III card, which wound up ruled a no-contest when Nino failed a post-fight drug test.
All of this is far from set in stone and seems more in the floated idea stage than anything, but it's an interesting idea and could be a good "fight fan's" show.
0 recs | 9 comments
If they follow the theme with Viloria and put him in with Hernan Marquez I’d be interested. Aside from that, I see two mismatches.
bachwards - February 20, 2012
In the modern boxing climate, I prefer these as “stay busy fights” to the type of crap others take as “stay busy fights.” At least Gesta’s a legit prospect and Terrazas a legit top ten guy at 122. I guess what I mean is, at least they can both fight.
They will (would) both lose though, and I can understand calling them mismatches, because Marquez and Donaire are top-shelf quality guys and these aren’t the folks to beat them.
Scott Christ - February 20, 2012
Fair enough point about the quality of stay-busy fights, but as you note, Marquez will already have had one by the time this date rolls around and Narvaez and Vasquez amounted to little more than that as well IMO. Marquez at least has the excuse that all the other attractive opponents appear booked for the first half of the year, but I’m not crazy about pushing back the Arce mismatch for Donaire and in turn further delaying the one good fight at this weight class that he’s actually interested in taking.
bachwards - February 20, 2012
Instead of “Mexico v. Phillipines,” I’d suggest “Paperstorm” as the title. Because it’s going to take a lot of paper to make Cowboys Stadium look even presentable.
El Destruyo - February 20, 2012
They’re going to scale it down a lot, of course, but it’s still going to be a big, hollow, noiseless, joyless, shitty fight venue.
Scott Christ - February 20, 2012
I would be surprised if this actually happens, but I think you are correct in your assessment
rpm0003 - February 20, 2012
so what happened in arce’s fight this past weekend?
battle axe of doom - February 20, 2012
Knocked out Parra in five
Scott Christ - February 20, 2012
Question of venues
Mr. Christ-
I had a question. Assuming Marquez vs [random boxer of Latin/Hispanic descent] and Jorge Arce vs Nonito Donaire double-header… what venues in Texas at what locations and what seating capacities do you hypothetically think they could sell out?
I hear you often say ‘Cowboys Stadium is huge and boxing here is like boxing in the grand canyon’ which I agree with – too big for boxing. So what would be some good other sites?
Thank you.
cheetahpants - February 22, 2012
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