Look who?s ducking?
In the words of Freddie Roach, it?s Juan Manuel Marquez, and not Manny Pacquiao, who?s preventing a big rematch between the two great fighters from happening.
?Since they fought to a draw last time (in 2004) Manuel thinks he deserves equal money,? Roach, the celebrated American trainer, told boxingtalk.com recently.
?The guy turned down $750,000 for a rematch (with Pacquiao in 2005) then goes to Thailand and fights for 10 cents? He?s the one who didn?t sign the contract.
?We are not ducking him, if the business side of it makes sense, we?ll fight him,? added Roach of the possibility of holding the rematch on March 15.
Roach maintained that Pacquiao, considered as the best pound-for-pound fighter today, is the ?main draw,? whoever the opponent is, wherever it?s held.
Yet Marquez, the WBC 130-lb champion who?s turning 34 in January, is ?asking too much,? according to Top Rank president and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.
This has opened new doors for Pacquiao.
On the list are Edwin Valero, Humberto Soto, Joan Guzman and Rocky Juarez in the super-featherweight class or Juan Diaz, David Diaz and Joel Casamayor in the lightweight division.
?Well I talked to Manny a few days ago, Manny said take the fight that makes the most money, and the most sense. We aren?t ducking anybody,? said Roach.
?Juan Diaz might be more marketable than Juan Manuel Marquez is at this point, so we?ll see. I think that if Manny does move up to 135 lbs, everyone else will too, everybody wants to fight Manny.
?He makes the most money. We need to see the numbers first before deciding on Juan Diaz. If it makes sense, we?ll move up and take his belt,? Roach told boxing scribe Brad Cooney.
Pacquiao?s long-time trainer sees a good match between Pacquiao and Juan Diaz, the WBA, WBO and IBF champion.
?I think it would be a great fight because both guys throw a ton of punches. We have the upper edge on the power. Juan takes a good shot, so it looks like a great fight, on paper at least.?
?March 15th is our next date for Manny to get back in there. Whoever Bob Arum gets us to fight that makes the most sense, that?s who we?ll fight,? said the trainer.
The guessing game continues.
