Richard Schaefer remains sceptical that Manny Pacquiao will ever step into the ring with Juan Manuel Marquez, telling setantasports.com that money will not be an obstacle to the fight taking place.
The two contenders for the title of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter fought to a draw in 2004, before Pacquiao was awarded a controversial points victory in March.
Boxing fans would love to see the fight go ahead for a third time but after Marquez beat Joel Casamayor to pick up the Ring Magazine lightweight title, he expressed sceptism that the Philippines fighter would ever take the bout.
Pac-Man, who fights Oscar De La Hoya on December 6, insisted that he would complete the triology if Marquez accepted a lesser fee – just as he had to against De La Hoya.
Speaking to setantasports.com, Schaefer said he hopes a third fight can happen, but believes Pacquiao and his team know what the result would be.
“The money for Pacquiao-Marquez fight is there so it cannot be the money,” Schaefer said.
“Manny knows he could have made more money fighting Juan Manuel Marquez, far more money, than he made by fighting David Diaz in his last fight.
“So I think money is not a good excuse. I don’t believe it. Pacquiao can say it as many times as he wants. I don’t believe it.
“I believe he knows Juan Manuel Marquez has his number and that he will beat him again.
“So he is going to try to find different fights, different avenues.
“Now he has the opportunity to go in with the most popular fighter in the world, Oscar De La Hoya, so yes, he is going to jump at that opportunity.
“Is he going to win, is he going to lose? Irrespective of that, no doubt he will move down. He is not going to stay at 147 pounds and Juan Manuel Marquez will be waiting for him.
“I think a lot of it depends on what the outcome will be with the Oscar fight.
“If he will get knocked out badly by Oscar he may look for an easier fight.
“If he wins he may look for a fight with Ricky Hatton.”
