Marquez's fight is off; Donaire, Rios double-header eyed

Whilie four-division titlewinner Juan Manuel Marquez no longer plans to fight on July 14 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, WBO junior featherweight titleholder Nonito Donaire and former WBA lightweight beltholder Brandon Rios are being targeted for a double-header at the Home Depot Center Staples Center in Carson, Calif., Top Rank Inc. CEO Bob Arum told RingTV.com on Monday night.

"Juan's not fighting in July. Not fighting at all. If he fights, it will be in Mexico, and [co-promoter] Fernando Beltran will arrange something for him there," said Arum of Marquez (54-6-1, 39 knockouts), who is coming off April's unanimous decision over Sergei Fedchenko for the WBO's interim junior welterweight belt.

"The Dallas Cowboys Stadium thing is out. I don't know if he's going to fight. We're just waiting. But he decided that he didn't want to fight until he did a real fight."

Marquez had been considering a southpaw opponent, such as Zab Judah or lightweight prospect Mercito Gesta, with an eye on a fourth clash with left-handed WBO welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao, against whom Marquez has battled through a draw and losses by disputed split- and majority decisions.

Asked if Marquez was waiting for Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs), who will defend his belt against Tim Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs) on June 9, Arum said, "exactly."

Arum said that Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs) and Rios (30-0-1, 22 KOs) are likely headed for the Home Depot Center, although the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas also has been reported to be in the running, according to BoxingScene.com, which lists IBF junior featherweight beltholder Jeffrey Mathebula (26-3-2, 14KOs) as Donaire's opponent on HBO.

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com