The best Manny Pacquiao fight than can be made this year is going to get made.
That means that, assuming he fends off 39 year old Sugar Shane Mosley on May 7 in Las Vegas, that the Pinoy Idol will be back in the ring in a November to remember “threematch” against Mexican counterpuncher Juan Manuel Marquez.
Frankly, it does not take a genius, any Everlast Einstein, to see that Marquez-Pacquiao III is, in the absence of the Floyd Mayweather-Pacman Dream Match, what’s in the best interests of the fans, the sport and these two Hall Of Fame fighters whose shared history is compelling and controversial.
A backdrop to the inevitable Marquez-Pacquez III fight, and one which will add to the bottom line for both boxers, is such a bout can be “auctioned off” in a bidding war between TV rivals HBO and Showtime. Pacquiao and Arum are linked with Showtime/CBS for the May 7 bout but that’s only a one fight deal.
Please ignore the background noise from Juan Ma about demanding a catch weight. Maybe Pacquiao would agree to it, maybe he would not but Juan Ma knows where his pan is slathered with mantequilla and that is only in Chapter III.
Mayweather remains on the sidelines and all the hearsay evidence out of Clark County has it that his criminal defense lawyer, high-flying Richard Wright, is battling a bulldog district attorney’s office that wants to craft a plea, notice I did not say plea bargain, in which Mayweather accepts at least a 90-day jail term in the “Baby Mama Drama” case involving Josie Harris. Advertisement
On Mayweather’s side, his attorney is demanding a no jail plea.
It’s also clear that Mayweather wants a comeback bout before he fights Pacman (Vicious Victor Ortiz mayhave wrecked plans for Andre Berto-Mayweather) so that gigantic matchup is pushed into 2012 if it happens then.
Right now, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum and Juan Ma are dancing around the facts because the fact is Marquez-Pacuquaio III will get made in short order once the business with Mosley is taken care of.
“Naturally, you can’t expect anyone connected to Manny to say it,” a source familiar with the November plans said. “That would be like saying Sugar Shane is an afterthought and no one wants to kill what little drama there is for May 7.
“Maruquez’s only obligation to Golden Boy is to let them match his best offer. That’s why talk about Marquez against Zab Judah and others is poppycock. No one will be able to match what Juan Ma will be offered to fight Pacman the third time. No one.”
Given their first two bouts, Marquez-Pacquiao III is such an easy sell that you could just string together clips and sound bites from before, during and after their first 24 rounds of competition.
Marquez-Pacquaio III, a November to remember.
If Pacquiao wins Chapter III, it’s on to the Big Dance next year with “Money” Mayweather.
