Pacquiao-Marquez III?
Given the givens concerning Mayweather’s's legal problems and the state of his career, it increasingly looks like Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent might be Juan Manuel Marquez.
After Pacquiao easily outpointed Shane Mosley Saturday night at the MGM Grand, his promoter Bob Arum mentioned that Marquez, who got it on with Manny twice, a draw in 2004 and a questionable decision in 2008, may be the Filipino’s next opponent. A Pacquiao-Marquez rubber match on November 5 or November 11 in Las Vegas could be a real possibility.
Arum also mentioned Timothy Bradley and Zab Judah as possible challengers to Pacman’s supremacy, but the Mexico City native Marquez has the nationality, shared history with Pacquiao, and name recognition to make the fight a highly desirable matchup.
“Everybody knows I want this fight with Manny,” Marquez said. “I have done it twice and I think I could do it a third time. I think I could beat him.”
The bout, however, is not without its problems. Pacquiao fought Marquez at 126 and 130 pounds, and has since then put on weight and added championship belts from other divisions to his extensive collection documenting his triumphs.
Another problem is that Pacquiao fights for Top Rank, whereas Marquez fights for Golden Boy. “Everybody knows,” said Marquez, “that the relation with the promoters, Bob Arum and Golden Boy, isn’t good.”
