Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Pacman, JuanMa Marquez To Fight in Welterweight Doubleheader
Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao could still face each other for one last time in 2014. But before the finale of their epic rivalry, the two must hurdle their respective opponents on the same card and at the same night.
Freddie Roach, the legendary trainer of the Filipino fighting champ, has remained interested to see his prized fighter going up against Mexico's top welterweight in an attempt to exact their revenge after absorbing a sixth round TKO loss against the four-time division world champion in 2012.
Marquez, who is coming off a split decision loss to Tim Bradley in October, has repeatedly insisted that he has no intention in fighting Pacquiao. He even stressed that it could be either Bradley or retirement for him.
However, Roach said the fifth battle between the Pacman and Dinamita can still happen. But before they square it off for one last time, they have to deal first with their respective foes.
The five-time Trainer of the Year suggested Pacquiao to fight Bradley for the WBO Welterweight Championship and Marquez face brawler Ruslan Provodnikov in a double-headed welterweight showpiece in April.
"Marquez doesn't want to fight Manny next, at least that's what his lawyer mentioned," Roach said via ABS-CBN News. "If Manny fights Bradley in April, why not put Marquez on the same card?"
"I think a Marquez fight against Ruslan would be terrific. If both Manny and Marquez win, they could fight again and settle their rivalry once and for all," he added," he added.
Marquez vs. Pacquiao V?
The rivalry between Marquez and Pacquiao is considered one of the best feuds in boxing history. Pacquiao leads the head-to-head encounter 2-1-1 but Marquez had the biggest blow after putting the Pacman unconscious for several minutes on the canvass in the sixth round of their welterweight showdown in December 2012.
Marquez repeatedly bragged that the Pacquiao chapter of his career is over and he has no plans of fighting again the eight-division world champion. Still, the lure of big payday could change everything down the road. In a $60 to $70 million bout, Marquez will pocket enough money to go on a retirement binge, while Pacquiao can get additional financial backing to offset the ill-effects of the tax penalty sanctions he's facing in the Philippines.
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