Marquez says Pacquiao not focused on bout

LAS VEGAS – Juan Manuel Marquez, in town to work Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Timothy Bradley for ESPN Mexico, didn’t like what he saw in Pacquiao heading to Saturday’s showdown.

“I think Pacquiao is not too focused on this fight,” the Mexican legend told Filipino sportswriters in a brief interview set up by a Mexican boxing writer at the MGM Grand.

Marquez accommodated the Pinoy scribes in short notice.

The only man to face Pacquiao four times inside the ring said Saturday’s third fight between Pacquiao and Bradley is quite interesting.

“Bradley has a new trainer and Teddy Atlas is a good trainer and he has confidence in him,” he said

“But I see Pacquiao not focused in this fight. I don’t know why. Maybe the politics, maybe the family, maybe the religion. I don’t know what happened.

“I think Pacquiao is not focused in the fight. This is important in a fight. Bradley is focused in the fight. He prepared very hard,” said Marquez.

He’s familiar with both Pacquiao and Bradley, having fought them.

Marquez had a draw, two defeats and a sensational knockout win over Pacquiao, and lost to Bradley on points in October of 2013.

The great Mexican counterpuncher, who hasn’t fought for two years now, couldn’t avoid the big question.

Will he ever fight again to face Pacquiao a fifth time?

“No,” he said even if he bared that he plans to return to the ring and do two more fights before finally hanging up his gloves.

The 42-year-old Marquez said there’s no point facing Pacquiao again and would rather keep the memory of his knockout victory in his mind.

“If I won the fight close and the judged gave me the decision, maybe I will do the fifth fight. Pacquiao wants the fight. But you know what happened,” he said.

“If our fourth fight was close maybe we fight again,” he added.