Juan Manuel Marquez
Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao (L) and Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez pose during a news conference at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada November 9, 2011. REUTERS/RICHARD BRIAN

The much awaited fifth battle between eight-time division world champion Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez is still likely to take place next year, according to boxing expert Brian Campbell of ESPN.

Pacquiao, who is now promoting his upcoming showdown with undefeated American fighter Chris Algieri on November 22 at Venetian Macao in Macau, China, could still face his arch-nemesis next year, if the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight remains unavailable.

Campbell believed the Pacquiao vs. Marquez showdown will still happen sometime next year, and the only reason why the fight was delayed is because of a hefty site paycheck Top-Rank promoter Bob Arum is going to receive by staging a Pacman fight in Macau.

Moreover, Algieri will only receive $1.5 million in guaranteed prize money - which is only a portion of the $20 million Marquez is demanding to fight Pacquiao for a fifth and probably final time.

"I still think we will see it. We only didn't see it this time around because it was obvious that Arum had an opportunity to take home a huge site fee from the casino in Macau to bring Manny over there again (while only having to pay Algieri $1.5M or so, which is peanuts compared to what JMM would have needed)," Campbell stated on ESPN chat session.

Another reason for picking Algieri instead of more dangerous opponent like Marquez is the fact that Pacquiao has been pre-occupied with other dealings outside boxing.

Aside from being a congressman of the lone district of Saranggani, Pacquiao is also focusing on his new career as a professional basketball player, and at the same time, head coach for Kia Motors - an expansion team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Last weekend, Pacquiao was drafted no.11 overall in the draft, making him the oldest and shortest player ever drafted in the league's history.

With his hectic schedule towards the end of the year, it would be too risky for Pacquiao to take on Marquez, who proves to stay sharp when he demolished Mike Alvarado in their welterweight clash last May.

Barring an Algieri's shocker in November, a fifth Pacquiao vs. Marquez war will still be a huge draw and one that could even surpass the records set by their previous four fights.

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