MEXICAN Juan Manuel Marquez, who is stalling on a contract for a rematch with Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao over a purse dispute, may want to take heed.
People around the world want to watch that fight.
An online poll conducted by ESPN showed that the Feb. 26 rematch is considered by fans across the globe as the most-anticipated bout in the early part of 2005.
In the ESPN poll, the fans were asked to choose which among the slated fights of three Ring Magazine champions and one popular fighter would they want to watch, and the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch came out the top choice.
Pacquiao-Marquez 2 garnered 42 percent of the 6,513 votes cast worldwide as of 3 p.m. yesterday.
Coming in second is the Feb. 5 rematch between WBC/WBA/IBF and Ring Magazine welter king Cory Spinks and Zab Judah, which took 30 percent of the total votes cast.
A far third is the showdown between famed warrior Arturo Gatti, the reigning WBC junior welter champ, who will defend
his title on Jan. 29 against Jesse James Leija. Gatti-Leija took 18 percent of the votes.
Ring Magazine and WBO lightweight king Diego Corrales, who is vastly popular among American and Mexican audience, was no match against Pacquiao, as his March 5 unification with WBC champ Jose Luis Castillo bagged only 10 percent of the total votes.
Pacquiao-Marquez is currently facing rough sailing, as the Mexican dual champ is playing hard ball owing to what he calls “injustice” concerning his $700,000 purse. Marquez wants no less than $1.5 million, insisting that he will be risking two belts against Pacquiao.
