A source from the camp of Manny Pacquiao said that it is almost impossible for Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez to say no to the amount of money he would earn from fighting his Filipino archrival for the fifth time.
Bob Arum confirmed on Wednesday that the 39-year-old Marquez (55-6-1 win-loss-draw slate with 40 knockouts) has already agreed in principle to fight Pacquiao (54-5-2 card with 38 KOs) for the fifth time provided he gets a higher paycheck than what he got from their last bout. Marquez and Arum met on Tuesday in Mexico to discuss the possible fifth fight.
?That?s moot and academic. He just won?t say no to a bigger offer. Nobody will reject it,? Pacquiao?s long time business partner Rex ?Wakee? Salud told The Manila Times in a telephone interview on Friday. ?Mr. Arum is prioritizing that fight [Pacquiao-Marquez 5].?
Though there is no announcement yet on the amount of the fight purse, rumors abound that Marquez wants at least $20 million for his fifth fight with Pacquiao. The Mexican took home $6 million in their last bout, a paltry sum compared to Pacquiao?s share of $23 million.
Arum said Marquez would decide in April if he would fight Pacquiao for the fifth time or not.
Salud stressed that no deal in the world could give Marquez a higher paycheck than what he would receive from his fifth encounter with Pacquiao; not even a match against undefeated Mexican-American Brandon Rios.
?That?s big nothing,? said Salud, referring to Marquez?s plan to fight Rios in September. ?In the end of the day, he [Marquez] will end up with a fifth fight with Manny.? – See more at: http://manilatimes.net/index.php/sports/top-sports-news/42505-pacquiao-vs-marquez-5-almost-a-done-deal#sthash.zC9yyiLs.dpuf
