Juan Manuel Marquez believes he has the leverage in negotiations for a potential fourth fight against his rival, former WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao lost his WBO crown when he was defeated by Timothy Bradley on a controversial split decision last June 9 in Las Vegas. Juan Manuel Marquez lost to Pacquiao in their trilogy bout last November 11 in Las Vegas, with the former champ taking home a controversial majority decision victory.

Their two other fights also had controversial results, with their first meeting in 2004 ending in a draw while their 2008 rematch resulting in a split decision win for Pacquiao. Marquez stormed out of the ring after the decision was announced and later said that he was once again robbed of the victory. Pacquiao, for his part, said immediately that he was willing to give Marquez another fight. But many analyst believe Pacquiao won in a very close fight. Marquez was waiting all the time.

I think the judges saw it for Pacquiao because he was throwing more punches, while Marquez was just contented in landing single shots. Marquez threw clean shots but Pacquiao was the aggressor and threw more combinations. Marquez just waited to counter. It was Manny that took the fight to Marquez and being the champion, he deserves the win. In boxing, if you are the challenger, you have to be the aggressor. To me, it was a close fight. If you put the marbles together, Manny deserved the win.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, said that they are already pursuing a fourth fight. Marquez was quoted by Boxing Scene as saying, “Now the ball is in my court,” regarding the negotiations for a fourth fight. Pacquiao also wants Marquez to fight in Mexico after his defeat to Bradley.

The contract for Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 included a rematch clause in case Marquez pulled off the upset, where he will be guaranteed $10-million for the fourth installment. Marquez was guaranteed $5-million in the trilogy bout.

“I think the fourth fight should be in Mexico, under my conditions,” Marquez said.