Pacquiao’s Next Bout: Rematch With Marquez

By Fred Guzman

Roy Mayweather Jr. is either unwilling or unavailable, because of various legal entanglements, to sign for what would be the biggest money fight in history.

Following a decisive decision against Shane Mosley and Mayweather on hiatus, Manny Pacquiao appears ready to take on the next-most attractive opponent.

The plan is to have Juan Manuel Marquez, the Mexican lightweight champion, move up in pounds to challenge for Pacquiao’s welterweight crown on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.

In 2009, in his only other welter bout, Marquez lost a lopsided decision to Mayweather. But Marquez also gave Manny all he could handle in a pair of earlier all-action fights that ended in disputed decisions.

In 2004, Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the first round of their featherweight title fight, but Marquez battled back to claim a draw. Many believed Marquez won. In 2008, they met again for the junior lightweight crown, and Pac-Man won a disputed split decision.

Marquez intends to go through with an earlier scheduled bout with former lightweight champ David Diaz on July 2 in Mexico City. If Marquez loses, the fight against Pacquiao is off.

So, Marquez is running the risk of losing on a guaranteed $5 million, plus a cut of pay-per-view money, and a guaranteed $10 million plus pay-per-view for a rematch in the event he beats Pacquiao.