With a showdown against Timothy Bradley just weeks away, Manny Pacquiao is holding off on any verbal committment to a fourth Juan Manuel Marquez fight this fall.
While fans have been clamoring for a superfight with Floyd Mayweather, calls for another Marquez bout gained further credence last November after Pacquiao won an unpopular majority decision over his Mexican rival in Las Vegas. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has confirmed his desire to hold the fourth bout this fall should Pacquiao defeat Timothy Bradley.
“Juan really understands how to fight southpaws. He’s a very smart man and an excellent fighter,” said Pacquiao in a recent blog entry. “His deliberate and patient style of fighting is a product that comes from experience and experience against great opposition. He’s a brilliant counterpuncher.”
“My trainer Freddie Roach has said many times that Juan is the only smart one out there; the only fighter who has figured me out.”
Marquez has been exploring possible summer fights against Erik Morales and Mercito Gesta. Even with those options, Marquez continues to express his one remaining boxing goal is a fourth Pacquiao fight.
“I know the fans want to see a fourth fight between us and I can understand why,” Pacquiao acknowledged. “Right now I can only focus on the task at hand and that’s defending my title against Timothy Bradley. Just because Bradley is moving up in weight doesn’t mean he is at a disadvantage, believe me I know. I’ve moved up in weight a few times myself. No one has ever beaten him — no one. Freddie and I have four weeks of very hard training to prepare for this fight. I cannot afford to be distracted by thinking of other fights. That is a lesson experience has taught me.”
Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against Bradley on June 9. Once an opponent is determined, Marquez is expected to make his in-ring return on July 14.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 