MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez will face reigning WBA/IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson if that?s the only way for him to get to Manny Pacquiao.
But he wants it written in black and white that if he beats Peterson, sometime in April in Dallas, he gets a fourth crack at his fiercest rival ? Pacquiao.
He wants a contract, a guarantee.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum, who just can?t wait a second longer for Floyd Mayweather Jr., had just come up with the brilliant idea of a mini-tournament.
It involves Pacquiao, of course, who may end up fighting Tim Bradley on June 9, and Marquez, who may later on agree to a fight with Peterson.
Assuming that Pacquiao beats Bradley, he moves on to the fight with the winner between Marquez and Peterson. But that?s if Pacquiao-Mayweather doesn?t happen in November.
Another fighter that?s being considered as Pacquiao?s opponent in June is Miguel Cotto. But there?s a heavy issue regarding the weight, and it may be hard to settle.
Cotto, now the champion at 154 lb, said he won?t make the same mistake of dropping down in weight, to 147 perhaps, just to fight Pacquiao, who knocked him out in 2009.
In this case, the 31-year-old Puerto Rican should end up facing Mayweather on May 5, because the latter will have no problem moving up to around 150, give and take.
Once Mayweather vs Cotto is sealed, then it?s time to move on to Arum?s own tournament.
But the 80-year-old guru of boxing promotions must first convince Marquez that this is the only way for him to land a fourth fight with the 33-year-old Filipino.
Marquez told www.ringTV.com he spoke with his Mexican promoter, Fernando Beltran, about the matter.
?Yesterday, I had a meeting with Fernando, and I want to fight with Peterson, but then, I want to fight with Manny Pacquiao again. I want to sign a contract that will give me a chance to fight Manny again, do you understand.
?I told Fernando that I will only sign the contract if you give me the fight with Manny,? Marquez said, just making sure he gets something, a step-aside fee, if Pacquiao and Mayweather decide to fight later this year.
Marquez is 38 and still dying for a fight with Pacquiao. Up to this day, he thinks he has beaten Pacquiao thrice. But if he really thinks so, then why does he want another fight?
?Maybe in the future, I will knock out Pacquiao,? Marquez told www.ringTV.com.
He?d do anything to get to Pacquiao.
