Former WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is now more interested in a fourth fight with arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez in November which Pacquiao wants it to happen in Mexico. ESPN Deportes’ “Golpe A Golpe,” Manny Pacquiao said his preference is to fight Juan Manuel Marquez, who has previously fought Pacquiao in three very close thrillers that were very close and controversial.
Pacquiao said “it’s all up to Bob Arum,” Top Rank chief executive who promotes Pacquiao, adding he would be “happy to fight Marquez in Mexico.”
Marquez grinned approvingly at the prospect of getting his wish for a final fight with Pacquiao before he finally hung his gloves. During the interview, Pacquiao asked Marquez, boxing analyst for the popular boxing program, what he thought of Saturday night’s title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, in which Pacquiao was dethroned by the unbeaten American challenger in a stunning split decision.
“You won, you won by four [rounds],” Marquez said in Spanish.
Arum said that Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 in Mexico “is a great idea.” Asked by this writer if a Pacquiao-Bradley rematch as stipulated in the fight contract is still a priority for him, Arum flatly said “Heck, No!”
Bob Arum said it would be tough selling that rematch because boxing fans were outraged by the split decision verdict by the judges in a fight that Pacquiao “clearly won.” Holding the fight in Mexico, where both Pacquiao and Marquez have very strong following would be a promoter’s dream, Arum said.
According to the Mexican media, some 37 million—at third of Mexico’s total population—watched the third Pacquiao-Marquez encounter on television last November. Boxing commentators predicted that it would be easy for a fourth fight to fill a huge soccer field which can accommodate tens of thousands in Mexico City.
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