Arum: Pacquiao-Marquez 5 possible

MANILA, Philippines - Bob Arum normally is right when it comes to boxing.

But when he said yesterday that there’s a possibility of a fifth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, did it mean that he sees the Mexican winning on Dec. 8?

“There is a possibility. Not likely but a possibility,” said the legendary boxing promoter, mentioning that Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta fought six times (from 1942 to 1951).

Pacquiao was asked during a conference call if he envisions a fifth fight with Marquez, whom he had faced three times and a total of 36 rounds since 2004.

Pacquiao responded by saying, “I don’t know. It’s hard to imagine.”

The Filipino congressman, who will turn 34 nine days after this fight, enjoys the upperhand with two wins and a draw although in reality things look pretty even.

But don’t tell that to Marquez, 39, who’s always firm in saying he feels he won all three fights, particularly the third one in November last year.

Pacquiao is coming off a stunning loss to Timothy Bradley last June, but instead of calling a rematch with the undefeated American he went for Marquez.

Everybody wants a closure to this classic rivalry, and both fighters are going for a knockout.

“I am giving him a chance. I am giving him a chance to prove he can win the fight because he thought he has won all three and he keeps talking about it,” said Pacquiao.

“So it is very important to me, to win this fight, especially since Marquez really wanted this fight,” added the boxer, who in May next year will seek reelection as congressman in Sarangani.

Pacquiao is entering his fourth week of training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, and said he’s very happy with the way training has been going on.

Freddie Roach said Pacquiao will try to be as aggressive as he was in the first three rounds of their first fight. On that night, Marquez went down three times in the opening round but managed a draw.

“The thing is Marquez fought the fight at a slow pace the last time. We plan to fight the fight at a much faster pace this time like we did in the first fight in the early rounds – that’s where we had the most success.

“Going by all the tapes we have watched, we do our best when we are more aggressive. More hand speed. We are going to use a lot of that,” said Roach.

“Right now my mind is focused on being more aggressive for this fight. If there is a chance in the ring during the fight, why not make the fight easy (knock him out) if I have the opportunity,” said Pacquiao.

Marquez has been looking for that opportunity as well. He did hurt Pacquiao a few times in their first three fights but never got close to knocking Pacquiao down.

Just days before Pacquiao fought Bradley last June in Las Vegas, the legendary promoter said he wasn’t ruling out an upset.

Then the unexpected happened. Bradley won a very controversial decision.

Could Arum be right again?