Starting with the Pearson fight, Salido went on a nine fight undefeated streak before losing to IBF and WBA featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez by a 12-round unanimous decision in September 2004. The fight took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the undercard of undisputed middleweight unification fight between Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya. Salido came into the fight very passive giving away many of the early and middle rounds, Marquez was successfully counter punching Salido and building a significant lead. Salido closed strong and won the later rounds but that wasn't enough. The three judges scored the fight 118-110, 117-111, 117-111.