Juan Manuel Marquez is doing well in his training under coach Nacho Beristain, but the Mexican boxing warrior is still unsure of his return bout after being sidelined for more than a year.
Marquez, who holds a 56-7-1 record with 40 knockouts, has not fought since scoring a unanimous decision win against Mike Alvarado in their World Boxing Organization International welterweight title fight after sustaining a knee injury during the bout.
Marquez has been training for a possible comeback over the past several weeks. He has yet to recover fully from the knee injury, but the 41-year-old said training is going as planned.
"We are doing well," Marquez told ESPN Deportes as reported by BoxingScene. "I'm focused as always, and give 100% during training. Training is going very well, and let's see what happens."
But when asked to give a timetable for his possible return, Marquez sounded noncommittal. He said the date and opponent will only be determined once his decision to fight again is firm.
"There is no date," Marquez said of his next fight. "Once I make a decision, and determine that I will return, then we will look at opponents."
Earlier this month, Beristain said that his fighter is also working hard in the gym because he is determined to return. Contrary to Marquez's recent statement, Beristain sounded convinced the former world champion will return in September based on what he saw from his prized fighter in training.
"I could see him coming back in September," Beristain said via BoxingScene. "He looks forward to working in the gym. We have a singular joy whenever he steps in the gym. He works very hard."
Beristain is also unsure, though, who will be Marquez's next opponent if he decides to return to the ring. But since Marquez is looking to win a fifth world title in as many division, the veteran trainer mentioned International Boxing Federation welterweight champion as a possible opponent or other world champions in the welterweight division.
"I don't know the opponent," Beristain said. "I think a world title fight, a title in his fifth division, would be something he'd like. Maybe the British fighter [Kell Brook] or one of the other champions."
Keith Thurman, who defeated Luis Collazo on Saturday, is the World Boxing Association regular welterweight champion, while Timothy Bradley is the interim World Boxing Organization welterweight champion after Floyd Mayweather Jr. was stripped off of the title.
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