Manny Pacquiao who recently relinquished his IBF junior featherweight crown wants a title and the best way to get one is to fight reigning WBA/IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. That?s the view of the champion and his business manager Rod Nazario who said that Marquez is the “first choice” for a planned May 22 title fight in the US.
In an interview with Manila Standard, Nazario said an appointment with HBO, promoter Murad Muhammad and Top Rank president Bob Arum who handles both Marquez and one-time Ring Magazine “Fighter of the Year” Paulie Ayala has been set for February 23 in New York and he and Pacquiao are likely to leave on the 20th. Murad and Arum had earlier discussed a possible Pacquiao-Marquez fight in May.
Pacquiao is scheduled to leave for General Santos and will return to Manila in time for the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines Annual Awards on February 13 where Pacquiao will receive the highest accolade as “Achiever of the Year.” On Thursday, Pacquiao was guest of the Inquirer whose editors chose him as the “Filipino of the Year” for his smashing victory over legendary featherweight Marco Antonio Barrera last November 15 in San Antonio, Texas.
