Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Marquez next Pacquiao foe?

by Dennis Principe - Manila Standard Today 

MEXICO’S three-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez has gained a slight head-start in a lucrative race they now call the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.

With blockbuster opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr. facing an assortment of legal issues, Marquez is slowly regaining momentum as the next possible opponent of Pacquiao.

Just hours after Pacquiao manhandled Mexican Antonio Margarito for 12 one-sided rounds, promoter Bob Arum rattled off the names of Marquez and fellow multi-division world champion Shane Mosley as probable foes.

Arum said a Pacquiao bout against either Marquez or Mosley can be done, but only if the handler of both challengers --Golden Boy Promotions will allow the astute promoter to run the show.

GBP Executive Richard Schaefer immediately made a statement regarding Arum’s condition, which sounded favorable to the Mexican champion.

“I’d be glad to let Arum run the daily co-promotion of Pacquiao-JM Marquez as long as he let’s me have the A-side fighter,” said Schaefer.

Schaefer was referring to several co-promotions with Arum’s Top Rank Inc. in past bouts that saw the Harvard-educated lawyer at the forefront of promoting the tie-up, even if it had Golden Boy boxers as the marquee fighters.

Another advantage of Marquez was the recent issue opened up by Mosley by claiming that he now is a free agent and has ended his ties with Oscar De La Hoya’s company.

Marquez has fought Pacquiao twice, the first one ending in a controversial draw in 2004, while the second one was won by the Filipino kingpin with a close, but well-deserved split verdict two years ago.

Already dealing with charges of robbery and assaulting the mother of his two children that may lead to a 34-year prison term, Mayweather yesterday added another controversy to his already notorious image.

TMZ reported that Mayweather may face a complaint from a private security guard, whose face he poked during a confrontation regarding a parking situation in Mayweather’s gated village.

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