MEXICO?S JUAN Manuel Marquez is willing to lower his paycheck and give in to other demands as long as the rematch with Manny Pacquiao materializes, sources from the US said yesterday.
“I will not mention figures but the main thing is that Marquez is amenable to a paycut,” said the source who has close links with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).
Reacting to a report that David Diaz of the US has been selected by Team Pacquiao to be his opponent for March 15, 2008, the boxing man disclosed that Marquez, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight champion, is even amenable to face Pacquiao at lightweight.
Diaz holds the WBC lightweight title and is under contract with Bob Arum?s Top Rank, while Marquez fights under the Oscar De La Hoya-owned GBP.
Trainer Freddie Roach told the Bulletin that “everyone wants to see Pacquiao and Marquez once again.”
“Who?s gonna watch that (Pacquiao-Diaz) fight?” asked Roach when contacted yesterday by the Bulletin during a break in training at the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Roach also expressed a bit of concern over Diaz, who, despite being an awkward fighter, “is good” and “a southpaw.”
“Manny?s not been tested at lightweight,” said Roach.
Pacquiao prefers to slug with right-handers and on two occasions he met a mirror-copy of his stance, he experienced problems. In April 2001 in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, Pacquiao needed seven rounds and had to bank heavily on his punching power to dispose of unknown Thai Wethya Sakmuangklang and in November in San Francisco, Pacquiao struggled against Agapito Sanchez of the Dominican Republic. The bout ended on a sixth round technical split draw.
Money appears to be the root of all the talks regarding the selection of Pacquiao?s next rival as Pacquiao and Top Rank stand to generate more income instead of a co-promotion with GBP.
If Pacquiao has indeed agreed to square off with Diaz, he will be guaranteed a hefty purse since Diaz is not expected to demand for the moon and the stars as what Marquez had done three years ago when he was offered to engage Pacquiao in a rematch.
The last time Diaz went up the ring in August ? a 12-round decision win over Erik Morales in Chicago ? Top Rank paid him a career-high of $ 350,000.
Pacquiao?s close friend Wakee Salud said yesterday that “if Golden Boy agrees to pay Manny $ 5 million for the Marquez rematch, there?ll be no problem.”
Salud also revealed that Pacquiao is now set to depart for the US this morning (via Northwest Airlines) or tonight (via Philippine Airlines) after missing his flight yesterday morning because of his film shooting schedule.
Pacquiao?s movie is entered in the film festival for the holidays.
