By Miguel Rivera

Former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) is still eager to return to the ring, even after a long layoff of over two years.

The last time Marquez was in the ring was back in May of 2014, when he won a twelve round unanimous decision over Mike Alvarado at The Forum in Los Angeles, California.

There were numerous conversations for various fights, like a catch-weight bout with fellow four division champion Miguel Cotto, but those opportunities never happened.

After the fight with Cotto fell apart over a disagreement on the catch-weight, the two boxers moved on in different directions.

"A lot of things have been proposed, from a possible farewell fight at the Estadio Azteca or the Zocalo, to a fight with Cotto. And while it is true that there have been some talks, some rapprochement with [Cotto's] people, there is nothing concrete. It all depends on whether or not I'm going to return to boxing, because facing someone like Cotto requires me being at 100 percent," Marquez told Ivan Bustos.

Two weeks ago, 51-year-old Bernard Hopkins entered the ring for a retirement fight and he was knocked out of the ring in vicious fashion by Joe Smith Jr. Marquez, at age 43, would take a similar risk in returning, but he's not worried at all.

"Remember that inactivity is the number one enemy of an athlete: you lose the rhythm, you lose the distance. Although I stopped training for a while, I'm one of the athletes that when they return to training they pick up where they left off in rapid fashion - I have muscular memory - and for that reason I don't worry so much [about inactivity] if I return to boxing," Marquez said.

A big portion of Marquez's inactivity was due to an ongoing issue with his knee. He says that problem is now a lot better.

"We're getting things together, little by little, with rehabilitation. The knee is giving way, it still thunder, but the important thing is that there is no pain, there is no inflammation, which is what you are looking for, but I have to be patient since I would not want to climb into the ring for the sake of getting in there or for money. I want to give a great fight and a great demonstration, which is something that has always characterized me," Marquez said.