Manny-Tim tiff ruled a WBO eliminator

MANILA, Philippines - The World Boxing Organization has mandated the winner of the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley to defend the WBO welterweight title against the victor of Juan Manuel Marquez’s fight with Mike Alvarado.

Bradley is set to defend his WBO welterweight crown against Pacquiao on April 12, while Marquez will take on Alvarado about a month after.

In a report by Michael Readman of On The Ropes Boxing Radio, WBO president Paco Valcarcel confirmed that Marquez-Alvarado “is a WBO eliminator fight.”

“So the winner between Marquez and Alvarado gets to fight the winner of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight,” said Valcarcel.

Marquez faces Alvarado on May 17, and if he and Pacquiao win, they’re headed for another collision course. Marquez has had a change of heart about facing Pacquiao for a fifth time, saying he’ll do it again if a world title is on the line.

The Mexican earlier insisted he no longer wants any part of his Filipino rival, whom he has met in the ring four times already.

Pacquiao, for his part, had been very vocal about his willingness to again clash with his archrival, who knocked him out cold in their fourth fight in December 2012.

Marquez, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first Mexican boxer to win world titles in five weight divisions. He had that chance against Bradley himself, but lost a split decision to the American in their WBO welterweight title duel in November last year.

Marquez will have to face Pacquiao again to achieve the feat, provided the latter gets past Bradley.