Top Rank CEO Bob Arum's preference for Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez is a fifth fight. JMM has been loath to accept that matchup, believing he closed the book on his hated rival with a startling sixth round knockout in 2012 that atoned for several "robberies."
Over the summer Marquez called knocking out Pacquiao his best moment in the ring. "It was great," Marquez said. "The best thing that's ever happened to me in this sport...I believe in divine justice. This fight is proof it is real. To win the way that I did, it's like God gave me a way to do it. That punch carried the strength of my family. The strength of my entire training. The strength of my entire Mexican fans."
He also said he would not step back in the ring with the Pacman, "I think everybody knows what happened in the last three fights with Pacquiao. I closed the chapter because I knocked him out, and I'll keep the feeling the rest of my life."
He might be reversing course though, seeing that few are excited about a rematch with Timothy Bradley, and even fewer agree that he was victimized by poor judging. "Bob Arum of Top Rank wants Marquez as Pacquiao's opponent for this fight date, and he doesn't seem ready to take no for an answer," Fight News said.
Even still, Marquez's comments indicate a sturdy unwillingness to face the Filipino a fifth time. "It was important for Manny Pacquiao to look good, so they gave him an opponent like Brandon Rios for his return and he looked impressive," Marquez told Boxing Scene. "I believe that Bob Arum is doing his job in getting him these types of opponents, but it will be important to see him face tougher competition and see how he looks against those kind of fighters after suffering that knockout,"
Ed Tolentino, a reputed boxing analyst told ABS-CBN News that he can't see Marquez accepting this bout. "Juan Manuel Marquez, I don't see him fighting Pacquiao anymore. Marquez is already contented with the fact that he was able to knock out Pacquiao. Let that be the lasting memory of the rivalry."
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