LOS ANGELES ? For now, Manny Pacquiao just wants to chill out and forget about boxing for a while.
After all what happened over the weekend, Pacquiao is thinking of going on a grand vacation with his loved ones, let his wounds heal first before charting his next move.
But believe it or not, Pacquiao still craves for Juan Manuel Marquez despite of what the Mexican did to him in Las Vegas.
“Even if we fight ten times, I am willing to face him. I am not running away from anyone as long as the promoters agree on terms,” said Pacquiao, who hammered out a 12-round split decision at Mandalay Bay to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight crown, his third world title.
Bob Arum of Top Rank has penciled June 28 as the next date for Pacquiao?s return to the ring and the Mandalay Bay is again staging the event.
David Diaz, the rugged WBC lightweight ruler, has been mentioned as opponent by Arum, who thinks a rubber match between Pacquiao and Marquez can wait. Diaz won a ten-round unanimous decision over Pacquiao?s sparring partner, Ramon Montano, in the undercard.
“Let the people see some other stuff,” said Arum during a packed press conference following the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch.
Under the contract signed by Pacquiao for the second bout with Marquez, he will be entitled to a third fight with Marquez in the event of a loss.
But that?s not the case with Marquez, who had battled Pacquiao to a draw back in May 2004.
Arum said there was no clause in the contract that Marquez signed for the Pacquiao rematch that guarantees him of a third bout in case he loses to the Filipino lefty.
Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), which promotes Marquez, admitted that there was indeed none but the public clamor for a rubber match should be enough reason for Arum to agree to such.
Marquez said he is willing to go up in weight and meet Pacquiao at 135 lbs (lightweight) and even 140 (super-lightweight).
Freddie Roach, who trains Pacquiao, said it is unlikely that Pacquiao will fight again at 130 (super-featherweight) because of difficulties making the limit. Against Marquez, however, Pacquiao came in at 129.
Plastic surgeon Jeffrey Ross, who stitched up Pacquiao after the fight, said the wound will heal in six to eight weeks.
