Promoter Bob Arum has said several times since Manny Pacquiao’s lopsided victory over Antonio Margarito two weeks ago he still wants to make a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight.
But there already have been two failed negotiations, and Mayweather’s current legal troubles could prevent it from taking place even if the sides reached an accord.
Arum, of Top Rank Inc., also has mentioned the possibility of Pacquiao fighting either “Sugar” Shane Mosley, welterweight champion Andre Berto or Juan Manuel Marquez a third time. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, would prefer the trilogy with Marquez, who tonight defends his two lightweight titles against Michael Katsidis at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on HBO).
“Marquez would be my No. 1 choice,” Roach said. “It has the history of two very good fights. Both fights were very close. People thought they could have gone either way. Obviously, Marquez thought he won. The thing is it is a very sellable fight. It has all the ingredients.
“I feel it can be nothing but a great fight because they both know each other’s style.”
Marquez got up from three first-round knockdowns and earned a draw with Pacquiao in May 2004. Nearly four years later, in March 2008, Pacquiao won a split decision over Marquez. Marquez thought he won both fights and has been craving another.
“My priority is Pacquiao,” Marquez said Monday at Trinity Boxing Club in Hollywood. “But if it doesn’t happen, then I can go and defend the lightweight title again or look forward to a fourth world title in different weight classes.”
No Mexican-born fighter has won more than three titles in different divisions.
“I like to be in the history books,” Marquez said.
Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) has fought Pacquiao at 126 and 130 pounds, respectively. He said he would like a third fight with Pacquiao to be at a catch-weight of between 142 and 144 pounds. This would seem to be no problem because Pacquiao weighed only 144.6 pounds for his junior middleweight title fight with Margarito. The agreed upon weight for that fight was 150, four under the limit.
But Roach said the days of Pacquiao fighting under the 147-pound welterweight limit are over.
“With Manny, ever since we went to 147, even though he has weighed in light for those fights, I wouldn’t let Manny fight under 147 again,” Roach said. “Anyone we fight would have to fight at that weight class. When he’s 147 he’s healthy, he’s always in a good mood. He doesn’t have to starve himself to make 147.”
When Pacquiao took Miguel Cotto’s welterweight title in November 2009, he demanded and received a catch-weight clause of 145, two under the limit. That was to his advantage, as it was when he secured the catch-weight for Margarito.
Roach now is saying there would be no catch-weight for Marquez.
This would be a positive for Pacquiao and a negative for Marquez, who has only once fought at higher than the lightweight limit of 135, and that was when he weighed 142 for a welterweight fight against Mayweather, who handily won that September, 2009 fight.
That doesn’t mean Marquez wouldn’t take the fight at 147. But he and his promoter, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, believe Arum might not really want any part of the third fight.
“I will not be surprised if they give it to Berto or Mosley,” Marquez said. “For some reason he’s avoiding me. He don’t want to fight, or maybe his company. It’s not Pacquiao, it’s Bob Arum.”
Said Schaefer: “As they say, I think Juan Manuel has Manny Pacquiao’s number and that is why it makes it such an interesting fight. And you know, Bob is not going to want to do that because Bob is a smart guy and so is (Top Rank matchmaker) Bruce Trampler.
“They don’t want to go and risk that.”
There’s another possible roadblock, and that’s Katsidis. Marquez, 37, knows Katsidis is no cupcake.
“He worries me in everything, not just one thing,” Marquez said of Katsidis, who currently holds an interim title. “He’s a complete fighter and that’s why he’s a champion.”
Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs), of Australia, still is mourning the death of his 31-year-old brother, Stathi, who died in October of as yet undetermined causes. Katsidis has refused to discuss his brother’s demise, but he did say he is dedicating this fight to him.
With that and the knowledge Katsidis has held two interim titles but never a full one, it would seem he has an emotional advantage.
“It was a very tough training camp, but nothing in this sport is ever easy,” the 30-year-old Katsidis said. “We’ve endured some tough times, but I’m ready to fight. I have dealt with a lot of demons, but I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this my whole life and now it is here.”
Katsidis is capable of winning this fight. If he does, Marquez’s chances of fighting Pacquiao again would be slim and none.
