Lure of lucrative fight against Manny Pacquiao could lead Juan Manuel Marquez to split with Golden Boy

World lightweight boxing champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico is in a battle over his future that could result in his splitting from Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to land a coveted shot at Manny Pacquiao, whose bouts are among the biggest paydays in the history of the sport.

Marquez, the biggest name left among Golden Boy’s fighters, has been holed up in his native country, knowing that a bitter feud between Golden Boy and Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank, has prevented him from stepping into the ring with the Filipino superstar.

Marquez, at 37, also knows time is against him.

If Marquez leaves, he would be following in the steps of three-time world champion Shane Mosley, who in December split from Golden Boy after reaching out to Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum to become Pacquaio’s next opponent. The move worked — the Pacquiao-Mosley bout is set for May 7 in Las Vegas.

Marquez’s promoter, Richard Schaefer, said late Friday that he and De La Hoya have invited the boxer to Golden Boy’s L.A. offices this week to talk. Schaefer also indicated that an associate of Top Rank has been trying to persuade Marquez to jump ship.

“Juan’s contract with us is not expired and we have certain rights for him for the next 12 months,” Schaefer said. “Given the severity of Arum’s involvement, we don’t know what Juan will do.”

Marquez’s contract with Golden Boy expired Sunday, and Schaefer said he has a 30-day exclusive negotiating period to try to extend that contract.

At one point last week, De La Hoya considered traveling to Mexico to try to sway Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs) to remain in the fold. Losing him would be a serious blow to Golden Boy.

Arum on Sunday denied having any knowledge about behind-the-scenes talks with Marquez and scoffed at the notion that he is orchestrating a Marquez exit from Golden Boy.

“This is innuendo … and talking about me like this is getting into dangerous ground,” Arum said. Marquez “can sign with [Golden Boy] for the next 20 years as long as he has a release to fight Pacquiao, which it sounds like what he wants to do.

“Why do I want to sign him if he does that? The whole thing makes no sense.

“He may want an out to directly deal with me for the Pacquiao fight. That’s the point of all this. I’m not looking to promote these guys, Shane or Juan Manuel Marquez.”

There is no question a Marquez-Pacquiao bout pitting Mexico’s most polished fighter against a worldwide star would be a significant attraction. The two fought to a draw in 2004 and a split decision in 2008 won by Pacquiao. Marquez was promoted by Top Rank in the first Pacquiao fight but left the company when he was dissatisfied by the money offered for a quick rematch.

Marquez did not respond to numerous requests by The Times seeking comment, but one Golden Boy official speculated that Marquez is taking the “Shane Mosley route.” Mosley had concluded that the ill will between Top Rank and Golden Boy would cost him millions of dollars by leaving him no choice but to participate in lesser fights instead of one with Pacquaio.

Marquez, for instance, fought Australian Michael Katsidis in his most recent Golden Boy fight in November, a bout that failed to fill a Las Vegas arena.

Top Rank and Golden Boy have not worked together since May 2009, when Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton. The promoters have failed in three negotiations since to strike a deal for a much-anticipated Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super-fight, and the companies have also engaged in opposing lawsuits over the rights to Pacquiao and a defamation claim made by Pacquiao against Mayweather and Golden Boy.

Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez said Top Rank is using Pacquiao as a “playing card” to draw fighters such as Mosley; Marquez; Timothy Bradley, the world junior-welterweight champion from Palm Springs who is part of promoter Gary Shaw’s stable; and world welterweight champion Andre Berto of promoter Lou DiBella’s stable.

“They’re dangling Pacquiao in front of everybody,” said Shaw, a veteran fight figure well-versed in the established practice of back-door negotiation. “It’ll be the first time I’ve ever seen a fighter box four guys in one night.”

Top Rank has parlayed Pacquiao’s worldwide popularity into unmatched riches, including a pay-per-view deal with Showtime that will include the airing on sister network CBS of a reality series previewing Pacquiao-Mosley.

Pacquiao earned about $25 million by claiming an eighth weight-class belt in his unanimous decision over Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium in November, and Mosley is expected to earn in excess of $5 million May 7.

Marquez no doubt is antsy to share in such a payday. Schaefer said the fighter told him recently that he would extend his contract with Golden Boy, but “a Pacquiao fight has to be excluded.”

“That shows you something is happening without our knowledge,” Schaefer said.

According to Schaefer, Marquez told Golden Boy officials he has been approached by a cousin of Zanfer Promotions President Fernando Beltran in Mexico and was told he would be offered a Pacquiao fight — but only if he is separated from Golden Boy.

Zanfer Promotions has connections to former world bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel, who headlined a Top Rank HBO card Feb. 19, and it copromotes Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. with Top Rank.

Beltran, in a telephone interview with The Times on Wednesday, said he has had “no contact with [Marquez] about Pacquiao and [has] no information about [Marquez] being a free agent.”

Asked if his cousin has contacted Marquez, Beltran said, “You’ll have to talk to [Beltran’s cousin] Juan Carlos. I don’t have anything to say.”

Meanwhile, Top Rank fighter Brandon Rios told The Times last week he has been told Marquez is a possible opponent this year because Marquez “is coming to Top Rank.”

Schaefer said he is prepared to fight.

“I’m not going to take any of that Top Rank [stuff] any longer,” he said. “Anyone who interferes with Juan, he’ll pay for it and pay for it dearly.

“The truth will come out. There will be lawsuits and depositions, and people will have to decide if they want to commit perjury. Juan Manuel is not a liar and he’s told us he’s been approached.”

Arum said he has not directed anyone to contact Marquez on behalf of Top Rank.

“Our primary focus right now is the Mosley fight. After May 7, we’ll look around and see who’s available. I haven’t talked to Marquez or anyone remotely connected to him. I can’t even say if he’s appealing as an option for Manny. I can’t make another fight for Manny Pacquiao without first talking to Manny Pacquiao.”

Golden Boy retains the right to match the best offer that Marquez gets from an opposing promoter through Feb. 27, 2012, Schaefer said. But another promoter familiar with the situation, who was granted anonymity to prevent any backlash, sees Marquez as a lost cause.

“They can’t match it,” the promoter said. “Golden Boy can’t get Pacquiao.”

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