MANILA, Philippines ? If he was given the chance to decide for Manny Pacquiao, boxing analyst Kieran Mulvaney would have chosen Juan Manuel Marquez over ?Sugar? Shane Mosley as the Filipino superstar?s next opponent.
In his commentary over ESPN?s Heavy Hitting Boxing radio show, Mulvaney said he thinks Pacquiao would have the extra challenge in facing Marquez instead of fighting Mosley.
?A true great will seek to take on the extra challenge, put himself out of his box of comfort in an attempt to push his career onwards,? said Mulvaney, who covers boxing for ESPN and Reuters.
The 8-division champion Pacquiao is already set to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Mosley on May 7.
The 39-year-old Mosley, who has failed to win his last two fights, is seen by several boxing observers as already past his prime.
Mulvaney finds it difficult to see Mosley getting past the younger Pacquiao.
?Mosley is always gonna look better against a guy who stands in front of him… but at the same time, Pacquiao is so fast, so in and out. It’s difficult to see a Mosley can have much impact,? he said.
Marquez earlier demanded a third bout against the Filipino champion, whom he engaged in two close fights.
?They were very close fights… Marquez had Pacquiao in trouble in those fights? Clearly, Juan Manuel Marquez is the man who deserves a shot,? said Mulvaney.
The boxing analyst, however, admitted that the Filipino superstar has the ?leverage? to dictate his terms in fighting Marquez.
Pacquiao?s camp has turned down offers to fight Marquez after the Mexican reportedly outpriced himself.
Boxing promoter Bob Arum earlier said Marquez was demanding a purse twice as big as what he received when he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2009.
Marquez reportedly received a guaranteed $2 million fight purse in the bout where he was defeated in a lopsided fashion.
?Manny Pacquiao is the superstar, Juan Manuel Marquez is not. So Manny Pacquiao does have that leverage. He doesn’t have to do what Marquez wants him to do,? said Mulvaney.
