Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez Fight in Jeopardy as Nacho Beristain Wants No Fifth Showdown
Mexican Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain sees no point for another clash between his prize fighter Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, believing the book of their rivalry has already been closed two years ago.
Beristain, who trained Marquez to become a four-division world champion and perhaps the most revered Mexican slugger of all time, believed Dinamita might probably want to win a world title in a fifth different weight class, but a fifth fight with Pacquiao is not ideal. He added that Marquez might look to fight for a welterweight title in another sanctioning body other than the WBO.
"What Juan Manuel wants more than anything is this [fifth] championship [at welterweight], and that's why the name of Pacquiao is once again [being discussed]. But I believe that if he gets past [Mike Alvarado], Juan Manuel can fight for [a world title from] another sanctioning body," the 74-year-old Beristain told Boxing Scene.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has been pushing for a showdown between the winners of the Marquez vs. Mike Alvarado and Pacquiao vs. Bradley fights, which both take place in the next two months. Marquez has vehemently denied another slugfest with Pacquiao, as he insisted that their rivalry ended right after scoring a sixth round TKO win over the Filipino fighter.
However, Marquez surprisingly changed his stance as of late, expressing his desire to take on the winner of the Pacquiao vs. Bradley fight. Many boxing analysts believed Marquez is really desperate to end his career as a five-division champion, and the only way to accomplish such feat is to defeat either Pacquiao or Bradley.
Then again, Beristain stressed that there's no reason for Marquez and Pacquiao to meet again in the ring. The trainer indicated that Marquez's KO win was enough to show to everybody who is the better fighter between the two gallant ring gladiators.
"There is no reason for him to face Pacquiao again, who he already conquered with that tremendous knockout," Beristain said.
Marquez and Alvarado will face each other on May 17 at the Forum in Inglewood, California.