MANILA, Philippines – Is it time to give up on a fifth meeting between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez?
Marquez, it seems, has really made up his mind.
The Mexican fighter’s longtime trainer said his ward is going for nothing else except a rematch with Timothy Bradley, who beat him on points in their fight last October.
And while talks of a fifth encounter between Marquez and Pacquiao started to float around especially after the Filipino’s dominant comeback victory over Brandon Rios last month, Marquez still no longer wants any part of his archrival.
Both fighters have figured in four epic battles, the last one culminating with a brutal knockout win for Marquez. Since then, Marquez has insisted the rivalry is over.
In a report by Ernesto Castellanos of notifight.com, Marquez’s longtime trainer and manager Nacho Beristain said the 40-year-old counterpuncher would rather hang up his gloves than face anyone else other than Bradley.
“Juan has only one goal – to confront Timothy Bradley in a rematch. If that does not happen, he will retire,†said Beristain.
Interestingly, Marquez is one of the three names being considered as Pacquiao’s opponent for his ring return on April 12 next year, along with Bradley and WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov.
But Beristain stressed that Marquez wants nothing but Bradley’s belt.
“Juan wants to win another world championship, in a fifth division, and Bradley has the welterweight title,†he said, referring to the WBO welterweight trinket currently held by the undefeated American.
Incidentally, it’s the same belt Bradley took from Pacquiao when he defeated him via a controversial decision in June last year. It’s what Marquez wants, planning to add it to his collection of titles he won at featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight and junior lightweight.
That’s something he won’t be able to accomplish in a fifth encounter with Pacquiao.