I think promoter Bob Arum was sending a subliminal message out to fight fans.
Reading between the lines, I see the message as this: Get ready for the inevtiable Juan Manuel Marquez-Pacquaio, Part 3, maybe as soon as November.
I think Arum was hint, hint, hinting that that the sequel to Parts 1 and 2 is about to turn into an historic trilogy.
On Friday, as the Top Rank Head Honcho was packing his suitcase for yet another Manny Pacquiao inspection tour in the Philippines, I spoke to the 79 year old promoter and mentioned that it is widely believed that today, meaning Sunday (March 20) is “Freedom Day” for Mexican ringmaster and Pacman nemesis Marquez.
According to media reports, mainly in Mexico, counterpunching Juan Ma has a promotional pact with Top Rank archrival Golden Boy, recent “poachers” Arum star Nonito Donaire Jr., which is set to expire on this very day.
The date marks the end of a 30 day period in which Golden Boy could retain its status as turning 38 in August JMM’s exclusive promoter.
One thing we know about Oscar and his Goldens is that they like to shout about signings and resignings from the rooftop and we’ve heard and seen nothing from them on Marquez’s situation.
Which brings us back to Traveling Bob, who should be landing in Manila and hopping on Gov. Chavit Singson’s private plane for the short hop to Baguiao and Pacquiao’s training camp any minute now if he hasn’t arrrived already.
At first, my mention of Marquez only produced legal niceties from Arum’s lips.
“I have not talked to Marquez since the night of the second fight with Manny,” Arum said. “I’ve been told by some people his contract is ending but I never spoke to Marquez.”
Assuming arguendo, then, that JMM is a free agent, what then, Bobinator?
“I will take it up with Pacquiao,” Arum said. “I wouldn’t do anything along those lines without speaking to Manny first. I would want to hear what Manny has to say, what he thinks about it.”
While Floyd Mayweather Jr. is partying/profiling with the also camera shy Kardashian girls in Vegas, Marquez looms as the most significant opponent for Pacman’s second bout of 2011.
irst up, on May 7 in Vegas, is Sugar Shane Mosley, at 39 not much older than Juan Ma.
Those who rap Pacquiao for “elder abuse” in picking on Shane and then maybe Marquez might want to recall the names of Maytweather’s last two ring foes as they were the same gents.
Marquez-Pacquiao III?
It could be a November to remember.
Get those clips of their first two bouts ready.
