Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Juan Manuel Marquez Open to Fight Pacman If He Wins Over Timothy Bradley on April 12?
Manny Pacquiao is about to face one of the tougher tests in his remarkable career on April 12 as he fights Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley for the second time. If he beats Bradley, it could open up doors to a very lucrative fight in the future but winning over the current WBO welterweight champion is still not an easy task.
Fans believed that Pacquiao was convincingly the winner over his previous battle against Bradley but such was not the case. Judges awarded a 147-pound split-decision win to Bradley, who since then, has proven his mettle in huge victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and Ruslan Provodnikov.
Juan Manuel Marquez has always expressed his disinterest in another fight against his long-time rival, Pacquiao because after beating him via a K.O. in the sixth round, it seems he doesn't want to risk tarnishing that ineffable ending anymore. However, a recent interview, Marquez said he still wants to have a welterweight title, which will make him a five-division world champion that's rare in boxing.
"At this stage of my career, I want something that will be a legacy," Marquez said. "I want that fifth championship. If it doesn't present itself, then I am closer to retirement. I want a transcending fight, something that will be historic." He said he is now amenable to fight against the winner of Bradley-Pacquiao even if it means facing Pacquiao for a fifth time.
Currently, other champions in the welterweight division are Marcos Maidana for the WBA, Floyd Mayweather for the WBC and Shawn Porter for the IBF. Mayweather will likely fight against Amir Khan next while Maidana is set for a return fight with Adrien Broner. Bradley is already tied up with Pacquiao and leaves Porter the only option for Marquez. However, Marquez won't earn much for fighting an unknown champion so if he wants a last shot at the welterweight title and his last paycheck to be fat, he has to wait for the winners of Maidana-Broner or Bradley-Pacquiao.
According to Arum, Pacquiao is guaranteed $20 million with a $6 million cut from the first fight, while Bradley would receive $6 million and a $1 million raise from the first fight. Both boxers will also have pay-per-view profits.