Top Rank is reportedly giving a fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado priority for their May 17 HBO date, with that fight appearing likely to happen. With that move by the promotional company, Mikey Garcia's return to action is being moved to June, with a precise date to be figured out soon when HBO gives Top Rank a firm date.

Garcia (34-0, 28 KO) has been talked up for a fight with Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-0, 16 KO), but that fight is not official, and there is at least some doubt that it actually gets made. Top Rank's Bruce Trampler says Garcia will return in June with or without Gamboa.

As for Marquez-Alvarado, it's a bit comical, really, that Marquez sees "no point" in fighting Ruslan Provodnikov but does see a point in fighting the guy Provodnikov beat down last year, but I think that's pretty clear to everyone. It's hard to form an argument that Marquez isn't avoiding the Provodnikov fight for whatever reason given what we know so far. There's no question that Team Provodnikov wants that fight and that HBO would be thrilled to have it. It's probably safe to guess that Marquez is just being "smart" and protecting his value for later in the year, when he could in theory face either Timothy Bradley or Manny Pacquiao for big money.

What do you think about Marquez's decision? And do you think Alvarado has a chance at the upset should the fight come to fruition?