MANILA, Philippines – Timothy Bradley has turned down a reported $6 million offer for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, and instead has agreed to stake his WBO welterweight title against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Bradley and Marquez, who both defeated Pacquiao last year, have finally come to terms, according to Top Rank chief Bob Arum.
?The fight is agreed to. We have contracts out to both fighters,? Arum, who promotes Bradley, told ESPN.com.
Marquez is under Zanfer Promotions which has a good relationship with Top Rank. He and Bradley have agreed to do the fight on Sept. 14 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
But Arum said the date could be moved to October if Floyd Mayweather, scheduled to face Robert Guerrero next month, pushes through with his plan to return to the ring on Sept. 14.
Mayweather and Golden Boy have made reservations for Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand as early as last December, and Arum said it?s not wise to promote a fight on the same night. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Pacquiao is now left to choose between Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios. And they?re looking at Oct. 13 either in Macau or Singapore.
But if Mayweather fights on Sept. 14, and Marquez vs Bradley is moved to Oct. 5 or Oct. 12, then Top Rank may be forced to move the Pacquiao fight to November.
Pacquiao wanted no other fight than a fifth showdown with Marquez but the Mexican had other things in mind.
Marquez, who?s getting stronger and faster as he grows older, has reportedly sought a $20 million payday against Pacquiao. He?s also not cool to facing Pacquio either in Macau or Singapore.
Pacquiao is skipping the United States for his next fight because of higher taxes (almost 40 percent), and would rather take on Rios or Alvarado on the other side of the planet.
Nobody knows how much exactly Pacquiao is worth following back-to-back defeats to Bradley and Marquez. But certainly either Marquez or Bradley would have made more against Pacquiao.
?If Mayweather is going to fight on Sept. 14, we?ll move our date,? Arum told ESPN.com.
Arum said Marquez is concerned that fighting Pacquiao in Asia may not draw huge pay-per-view numbers, even if the Top Rank chief said that the fight would take place in the morning of Sunday which is Saturday prime time in the US.
But Marquez said it?s not all about how much money is to be made by going up against Pacquiao.
?It still doesn?t make sense. To me, it wouldn?t be a challenge, and I need challenges. I would like to close my career in good standing and leave a legacy behind me,? added Marquez, seeking a fifth world title in fight weight divisions against Bradley.
?I want everyone to remember me for having faced the best fighters out there, and I believe Timothy Bradley is one of them. And why not look forward to finding that fifth title in a fifth weight class, which is something no one here in Mexico has achieved?? he told ESPN.com.
