FEW thought Tim Bradley deserved his 2012 decision over Manny Pacquiao. The American remains unbeaten, he holds the WBO welterweight title but even his stirring battle with Ruslan Provodnikov hasn?t confirmed him as a true champion in the eyes of many. That would change if he beat Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on October 12.
Marquez in turn has been defined by his great rivalry with Pacquiao. The Mexican dropped three close, contentious decisions to the ?Pacman? until he drilled him with a shuddering knockout last December.
Bob Arum, head of promoters Top Rank, however still has faith in Pacquiao. ?The Bradley fight was a farce because he won that fight easy and then in the Marquez fight he made a colossal mistake and got knocked out. But he was beating the hell out of Marquez,? Arum told Boxing News.
To the promoter Marquez taking on his nemesis a fifth time would have been the easier sell. ?A fight with Pacquiao is much easier to market but he wanted Bradley because Bradley had the title that he won from Pacquiao. Like Mexicans they want to go into history and he?d be the first Mexican to fight for world titles legitimately in five different weight divisions. Now for me that doesn?t mean anything but for him it means a lot apparently,? Arum said.
Nor is the promoter sure a fifth fight will happen. ?It?s not up to me, if Marquez beats Bradley he will have won five major titles and, unlike a lot of fighters, Marquez, who has an accounting degree has been very clever, and I mean that in a good sense, with his money. He might say enough is enough and walk away and never fight again,” Arum explained.
“All I know is in dealing with Marquez you?re dealing with a very intelligent older guy who?ll make up his own mind as to what?s best for him. Unlike a hungry fighter, he is not primarily motivated by money.?
While Bradley is on a personal mission to convince the world he merits his title, Marquez is out to demonstrate that he is a great champion, independent of Manny Pacquiao.
