Manny Pacquiao has asked the World Boxing Council for some time to fulfill his previous commitments before he could begin his preparations for a possible rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez by the end of the year.
“I am accepting the WBC position. But first, I have to fulfill my present commitments. Then I hope the WBC gives me enough time to train for the Marquez fight,” said Pacquiao in a letter forwarded by his confidante Wakee Salud to the WBC the other day.
Pacquiao was responding to a directive from WBC president Jose Sulaiman who said Marquez, who snatched the WBC super-featherweight crown from Marco Antonio Barrera last week, should face Pacquiao next.
Sulaiman gave Pacquiao until last Friday (Saturday in Manila) to reply by either accepting or turning down the offer.
“I am deeply honored by your decision to designate me as the mandatory challenger to Marquez,” Pacquiao added in the letter, which Salud read to The STAR.
One thing that may go against a Pacquiao-Marquez fight, however, is the possibility that Top Rank owner Bob Arum, who is Pacquiao’s promoter, might push for a Humberto Soto bout against Marquez.
“That’s a problem. I think Bob Arum wants Soto, who is also under Top Rank, to face Marquez first. Soto has a very good chance against Marquez. I think Soto is the best Mexican in the 130 pound division today.
“And should Soto beat Marquez, then Mr. Arum can pit Soto against Pacquiao for the title early next year. This will be a battle between two boxers under Top Rank,” said Salud.
“But we don’t want that fight. The big fight for Pacquiao now is the one that the WBC wants. Pacquiao will make a lot of money fighting Marquez this year, instead of Soto next year,” said Salud.
Soto, described as Top Rank’s other jewel, is scheduled to face Bobby Pacquiao in June in New York. But the fight pushing through will largely depend on the developments in the coming weeks.
Salud said he’s been in touch with Pacquiao who is now in Los Angeles training for his April 14 fight against Jorge Solis, and was told by the latter to respond to the WBC in his behalf.
“Manny authorized me to write the WBC in his behalf and that he has agreed to face Marquez. That’s what I did,,” said Salud.
After beating Barrera in Las Vegas, Marquez declared that he’s open to an immediate match with Barrera if the deposed champion, a fellow Mexican, wishes so.
Golden Boy Promotions, which handles both Marquez and Barrera, has even set a date for the rematch – Sept. 16.
Only after Barrera refuses to face Marquez in September will the door open for a rematch between Marquez and Pacquiao who have an old score to settle following their controversial draw in 2004.
But the WBC quickly stepped in, with Sulaiman saying that Marquez should face Pacquiao first before even thinking about a rematch with Barrera.
“Rules are rules, and definitely state that there must be a mandatory defense, and we are going to push for that. The next fight for Juan Manuel Marquez will be against Manny Pacquiao, if Manny defeats Jorge Solis,” said Sulaiman.
After fighting Solis at the Alamodome in Texas, Pacquiao would shift his focus to his bid for a congressional seat in the May 14 elections back home.
