Initial talks to stage a Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight in mid-2011 have taken place and unless Juan Manuel Marquez and his promotional team allow Top Rank to call the shots in holding the bout, the Mexican will not get another stab at the Filipino pound-for-pound king.
Someone close to Pacquiao told the Bulletin over the weekend that rap mogul James Prince, who now represents Mosley, is doing the negotiating for the American fighter with Top Rank Inc.
Top Rank?s preference to Mosley over Marquez and the others apart from the indisposed Floyd Mayweather came to the fore when Pacquiao fought Antonio Margarito last Nov. 13 in Texas, where Mosley was seen and later interviewed by the press.
?Mosley has a tremendous following based on his pay-per-view with Mayweather,? said the boxing man who asked not to be named.
Even Pacquiao appears to be gravitating towards a Mosley bout when interviewed last week when the 31-year-old fighting congressman described his potential foe as being somebody to be reckoned with owing to his track record.
Still, Top Rank chief Bob Arum has Marquez on the radar screen and the 79-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer plans to discuss Pacquiao?s future when he visits the country in mid-December to attend Pacquiao?s birthday bash.
Also in the running is Andre Berto, the fast-rising welterweight champion. Whoever is chosen to face Pacquiao, the source made it clear that it will be fought at welterweight.
?The fight will be at 145, 146 or 147 lbs,? he said.
Marquez confirmed his desire for a third fight with Manny Pacquiao, saying: ?That’s what we want, because I always want to fight the best.?
Marquez and Pacquiao first fought in 2004 ? a slugfest that ended in a draw. Their 2008 rematch saw Pacquaio take a split decision.
