Freddie Roach wants Juan Manuel Marquez badly for Manny Pacquiao.
LOS ANGELES ? Talking to Manila-based scribes at the Wild card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Monday that a rubber match with Marquez is the most sensible thing to do after Pacquiao took the sting out of Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.
?They (Pacquiao and Marquez) have history and he (Marquez) is supposed to have Manny?s number, which might be true,? said Roach.
Pacquiao and Marquez have fought twice with each fight ending in controversy.
In May 2004, Pacquiao and Marquez battled to a 12-round split draw of a world featherweight title match and when they faced each other in a rematch in March 2008, Pacquiao escaped with a 12-round split decision when they squared off at superfeatherweight.
On both occasions, Marquez vehemently protested the outcome, saying he had done enough to merit a decision. Roach said Marquez is the most attractive foe among those being mentioned.
?That fight would sell,? said Roach.
It was against Marquez that Pacquiao absorbed some of his toughest ring wars and a third face-off is guaranteed to become a hit in the box-office.
Still, Roach is optimistic that Pacquiao will finally succeed in shutting up the Mexican counterpuncher.
?I think Manny has really progressed a long way since they fought a long time ago,? said Roach, sounding upbeat that after they slug it out for the third time, there won?t be a need to stage a fourth fight.
?I just want this (third) fight to shut him (Marquez) up and settle the score.?
Roach said he doesn?t mind seeing Pacquiao fight at a catchweight against Marquez, who will turn 38 in August, saying the 32-year-old Filipino can meet him at 144 or 145 lbs.
Promoter Bob Arum has penciled the date Nov. 5 in Las Vegas as the date and venue of Pacquiao?s much-awaited return but has yet to finalize the fine points of the Pacquiao-Marquez contract since Marquez has to present Arum?s offer to his promotional outfit Golden Boy.
If Golden Boy fails to match Arum?s offer, Top Rank will go ahead with the fight. Meanwhile, Roach took the opportunity to lash at Mosley for his cowardly performance at the MGM Grand.
