Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, the new World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, on Sunday belied the claim of his defeated opponent Juan Manuel Marquez that he refused a rematch with the 34-year-old Mexican boxer.
“No, I didn’t say no. (I said) anytime…Kahit saan pang away, suntukan kami (In any fight, we can punch each other),” said Pacquiao in an interview with radio dzBB.
Earlier, Marquez said, “I was asking for a rematch but he (Pacquiao) doesn’t want to give it to me.”
But Pacquiao said it would still be up to his promoter, Top Rank Promotions, whether he would fight again with Marquez. “Bahala na ang promoter.”
He said Marquez’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, had no plan to contest his victory, but was just eager for a rematch. It was earlier reported that Marquez’s promoter and some boxing experts believed that it was the Mexican boxer, and not Pacquiao, who won in the Las Vegas bout.
“Wala naman. Ang gusto lang nila mag-rematch…pag wala na ang sugat (They won’t contest. They just want a rematch…after the wound heals),” he said.
