MANILA, Philippines ? Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is not giving up on making a deal to arrange a third fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao in 2011 despite the enormous difficulty of making it owing to Pacquiao’s alliance with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., which is GBP’s fiercest rival.
GBP Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer told fanhouse that a rubber match between Pacquiao and Marquez should take place because the first two fights were huge hits.
“I am 100 percent behind Juan Manuel, and so is (GBP owner) Oscar (de La Hoya), as it pertains to trying to pursue a potential third fight for Juan Manuel and Manny Pacquiao. That’s the first order of business,” said Schaefer, who is De La Hoya’s right-hand man and the one who runs the day-to-day operations of the Los Angeles-based promotional company.
Pacquiao and Marquez battled to a draw the first time they rumbled in May 2004 and Pacquiao escaped with a close decision in the rematch in March 2008.
Schaefer contradicts Pacquiao’s recent statements that nobody’s going to watch them fight for the third time.
“I think, you know, that it would be another great fight. I think that it would be another great fight, and another great showdown,” said Schaefer.
Arum is eyeing a Pacquiao fight with Shane Mosley although tops on the list is inking Floyd Mayweather.
But Mayweather’s legal troubles and his big ego will pose serious problems in staging such a great matchup, something that will pave the way for Pacquiao-Marquez III.
Schaefer said Marquez’s counter-punching style and Pacquiao’s explosive nature will produce another thriller.
“As I said, you know, I think that the counter-punching from Marquez, and the ring savvy of Marquez is going to neutralize some of the strengths that Pacquiao brings to the table. So I think that in my opinion, it will be again, a pick-em fight and a very close fight. Marquez has the heart and the style and the will to really show the world what he’s all about.”
