World Featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has a brief message to Manny Pacquiao: Let?s do it again.
“Obviously, I would like to fight Pacquiao,” Marquez told a boxing website recently. “I would like to show the people who really won that fight on May 8 of last year. I think it would be another great fight.”
Marquez is revving up for a defense of his twin featherweight titles?the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation?against Colombian Victor Polo on May 7 and is looking forward to a rematch with Pacquiao.
Marquez was on the verge of a first-round knockout loss when he squared off with the Filipino slugger on May 8 last year, but picked himself up and managed to finish the 12-rounder on his feet.
Commenting on Pacquiao?s recent misadventure with Erik Morales, Marquez, 31, boasted that his draw with the 26-year-old General Santos native aided Morales? cornermen in devising a plan to negate Pacquiao?s extra-ordinary strength.
Erik did great. I am sure he saw the video of our fight and was able to take advantage of everything we showed against him,” said Marquez.
In another interview, Marquez said he doesn?t mind going leaving the 126-lb category to be with Pacquiao, Morales and the other marquee name in the super-featherweight bracket, Marco Antonio Barrera.
Informed about Marquez?s dare, Pacquiao readily made himself available but insisted that in the event they lock horns again, it would be in the 130-lb class.
“Talagang kaming apat ang maglalaban-laban at gustong panoorin ng mga tao,” said Pacquiao, who flies back to GenSan tomorrow morning for a brief visit before attending the major promotion of Wakee Salud on Wednesday in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu.
There?s a strong potential that a round-robin involving the four is going to command big bucks in the coming months and years just like in the 1980s when the junior-middleweight and middle divisions were inhabited by Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.
Pacquiao?s long-time business manager, Rod Nazario, admits the appeal to boxing fans of Pacquiao and company is phenomenal.
“These are guys who earn big money and do well in pay-per-view,” said Nazario.
The third fight between Barrera and Morales generated 320,000 PPV buys, while the March 19 duel between Pacquiao and Morales had 350,000 buys.
