The vice president of Golden Boy Promotions said negotiations are going on regarding the highly awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Eric Gomez, who?s in the country attending the 45th World Boxing Council convention, yesterday said that while nothing has been finalized yet, talks are on between GBP and Top Rank.
?The most important thing is to make the fight and everything else falls into place,? he told scribes at the Manila Hotel lobby. ?Everything is in the works right now. It?s being negotiated.?
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaeffer and Top Rank president Bob Arum are the ones burning the lines, according to Gomez, in the hope of landing the fight that ?everybody wants to see.?
Pacquiao, of Top Rank, and Marquez, of Golden Boy, figured in a very controversial draw in 2004, but seemed to have avoided each other since then as calls for a rematch mounted.
?That?s the only blemish in his last five years because it was a draw. He lost to Morales but convincingly beat him twice so there?s no question about that. But the Marquez draw was controversial,? Gomez said.
Gomez said Marquez, the reigning WBC super-featherweight champion (130 lbs), is even willing to fight Pacquiao at 135 lbs if ever the Filipino decides to move up as a lightweight. But at 135, the two great fighters will fight with no title at stake.
?Marquez made the comment that if Manny can?t make 130 he?ll go up and fight him at 135. He has made it very clear to us that that?s the fight he wants. It?s up to us promoters to make it happen.
?There?ll be no title at 135 but still there will be a lot of interest. A lot of Mexican and Filipino fans will want to see that fight. It will still be a big attraction even if there?s no title involved,? Gomez said.
The GBP official said it?s very likely that the rematch, if held, will be staged in Las Vegas, where Pacquiao has fought four of his last seven fights, losing only once to Morales.
?Obviously it?s hard to compete with Las Vegas because it has a lot of money with all those casinos. But it hasn?t been determined yet. But if there?s a good offer (elsewhere) we would entertain it.?
But it should be held in March.
?I heard that March has been talked about. Marquez is ready. He?s willing. The only date being considered is March. But I?m not sure about March 15,?Gomez continued.
?Richard Schaeffer is the one negotiating with Arum. And that?s all I know. I don?t know what the situation is but we are negotiating with Top Rank. I know that for sure,? he added.
