REPORTS FROM Mexico reveal that initial negotiations have started in relation to the much-awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
The Spanish-language sports daily Esto said that Marquez?s promotional outfit Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) and executives from cable giant HBO have discussed the possibility of putting up the match in the first quarter of 2008.
The paper quoted Marquez?s chief handler and trainer, Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain, as the source of the welcome development for boxing aficionados.
Pacquiao and Marquez battled to a bloody 12-round split draw in May 2004 even though the Filipino floored the Mexican thrice in the first round alone. Had it not been for a scoring booboo by one of the three judges, Pacquiao would have emerged victorious by split decision.
As this developed, the Mexico-based WBC yesterday also made itself clear that in the event Marquez gets past Rocky Juarez in a defense of the super-featherweight title next month in Tucson, Arizona, there?s no other option but to see Marquez make a mandatory defense against Pacquiao.
“If he (Pacquiao) declines for a third time, then I think he doesn?t want to fight Marquez, and we have to go our way,” said long-time WBC supreme Jose Sulaiman.
“But I believe that Marquez and Pacquiao are willing to fight each other. And it?s got to be in the first quarter of 2008.”
Sulaiman is pushing for Pacquiao-Marquez to take place owing to the hefty sanction fee that the governing body is going to get from the promoter since both fighters will demand fat paychecks for the fight to take place.
Although Pacquiao doesn?t hold a world boxing crown, he is widely regarded as the best 130-pounder in the world today owing to his string of victories over the likes of Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao currently holds the WBC International title but he is the most sought-after boxer in the lower weight categories with the cr?me dela cr?me of the division and even the lightweight class calling out his name.
Pacquiao is being promoted by Bob Arum of Top Rank while Marquez is under contract with Oscar De La Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions, two companies that joined hands in staging the highly-successful Oct. 6 rematch between Pacquiao and Barrera at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
