Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez III being planned for Sept/Nov ?

Quote :

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will defend his welterweight title against former champ Shane Mosley next month, but promoter Top Rank is already making plans for him to fight rival Juan Manuel Marquez in the fall.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said Monday that Top Rank has made a formal, written offer for Marquez, the lightweight champ, to challenge Pacquiao for his welterweight title on a date to be determined in October if he defeats Mosley.

Schaefer said the offer was sent to Golden Boy's attorney by Top Rank's attorney.

Marquez's contract with Golden Boy expired at the end of February. Although Golden Boy has offered him fights and discussed a new deal with him, he has not accepted while holding out hope for a third fight with Pacquiao.

But even though Marquez's promotional deal with Golden Boy expired, the company still has the right to match any offer from another company until February 2012, Schaefer said. He said Top Rank is aware of the matching rights, which is why its attorney sent Golden Boy the offer.

"Last Friday, April 22, Top Rank made a firm offer to Juan Manuel Marquez to fight Manny Pacquiao in October for his WBO 147-pound belt," Schaefer said. "Part of the deal includes a rematch provision in case Marquez would win. So Pacquiao could potentially be tied up for quite awhile."

Schaefer said the written offer to Marquez also contained financial terms, such as the guaranteed purse and the specifics of his share of the pay-per-view profits. Schaefer would not disclose those terms.

Top Rank declined to discuss the offer.

"I have no comment on anything regarding Marquez," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. "We have said that Marquez would be one of the possible opponents for Pacquiao after the fight with Mosley if he is successful against Mosley on May 7. But I have no comment. I am concentrating on promoting a fight on May 7."

By offering a fight against Pacquiao to Marquez, Top Rank is signaling that Pacquiao will not be facing Floyd Mayweather Jr., this year. Two rounds of negotiations have already failed to produce a deal for that fight, likely the biggest revenue generator in boxing history.

"Based on this offer, it seems like Pacquiao and Top Rank have no interest in fighting Mayweather, at least this year," Schaefer said. "If they did, I am sure Top Rank would have had language in the offer saying this was the deal unless a Mayweather fight could be secured, but it doesn't say that."

Pacquiao, a significant favorite against the 39-year-old Mosley, has already fought two classics against Marquez: a controversial draw in their 2004 featherweight championship fight and a similarly controversial split decision win in their 2008 junior lightweight title fight.

Marquez has been angling for a third fight since, but was passed over in favor of Mosley for the May fight.

The key reason Marquez did not get the fight in May was because when Top Rank was putting together Pacquiao's fight, Marquez was under contract to Golden Boy. Top Rank refuses to do business with Golden Boy and the companies have been embroiled in numerous lawsuits in recent years, including one over Pacquiao's promotional rights, which Top Rank won.

Mosley had long been with Golden Boy, but cut ties with the company -- including an ownership stake -- in order to get the fight with Pacquiao.

"Obviously, Top Rank will have to live by these deal points they offered Marquez, so if any of these things would change -- the date, the guaranteed money, the [pay-per-view] upside -- they would have to come back to us, because Golden Boy continues to hold the right of last refusal for Marquez's next fight until the end of February 2012," Schaefer said.

"I think [Top Rank] sent us the offer because they know that we have these rights, these last negotiation rights. So they informed us that they had submitted that offer to Marquez. It's the right thing to do. I don't have a beef here with Top Rank whatsoever. "

While Schaefer says he has no issues with Top Rank, he is puzzled by the timing.

"I am a firm believer that when a fighter becomes a free agent and has certain rights or options that they explore those options. Top Rank did the right thing here. Assuming Top Rank lives by those deal points, so be it. But I don't really understand it as it relates to the timing," he said.

"What's the urgency of locking in Pacquiao's October fight before he has fought Mosley? I just find the timing strange that you would do that before a big promotion. Maybe Top Rank discounts Shane's chances. Maybe they just feel it's important to have that opponent lined up for Manny now."

Schaefer said Marquez's team had not informed him of the offer, however.

"Top Rank gave us their offer, but we have not heard from Marquez," Schaefer said.

Schaefer said he met with Marquez in Mexico City about three weeks ago and presented him with a new promotional offer. Had he accepted, Marquez's first bout of the deal could have been a July 30 pay-per-view headliner against junior welterweight titlist Zab Judah. Schaefer has been talking to Judah promoter Main Events about the fight, which Judah wants.

The fight would have given Marquez the opportunity that he has wanted -- a chance, with a win, to become the first Mexican to claim a world title in four divisions.

"Maybe that was why [Top Rank] made the offer -- because they knew we were trying to make a deal with Marquez and they wanted to make sure they have an opponent for Pacquiao in October," Schaefer said.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6426302

It should happen because Pac Man will beat Mosley and hopefully they can get the fight made, although I dont think the fight is a good 1 anymore. JMM is getting up there in age and he couldnt beat Pac Man when he was younger so I doubt he can get it done now.

timthebim wrote:

It should happen because Pac Man will beat Mosley and hopefully they can get the fight made, although I dont think the fight is a good 1 anymore. JMM is getting up there in age and he couldnt beat Pac Man when he was younger so I doubt he can get it done now.

Hold on there a second Timmy, alot of people including me had Marquez winning the rematch.

I thought it was close but how many years ago was that now Ali? I dont think JMM is getting better at this stage as Pac Man seems to get better every fight.

timthebim wrote:

I thought it was close but how many years ago was that now Ali? I dont think JMM is getting better at this stage as Pac Man seems to get better every fight.

Was it March 08 ?

It's not that Marquez is getting worse with age, I just don't like him above Lightweight, he's perfect there.

Ali wrote:

timthebim wrote:

I thought it was close but how many years ago was that now Ali? I dont think JMM is getting better at this stage as Pac Man seems to get better every fight.

Was it March 08 ?

It's not that Marquez is getting worse with age, I just don't like him above Lightweight, he's perfect there.

I dont think he is getting worse either but he definitely isnt getting better with age.

keep this in mind IMO and this is just the way i see it JMM looked in both fights like he could be pac's kryptonite. and i have to go with ali had it not been for the KD in the 2nd fight maquez may have well won that fight

Deezy0814 wrote:

keep this in mind IMO and this is just the way i see it JMM looked in both fights like he could be pac's kryptonite. and i have to go with ali had it not been for the KD in the 2nd fight maquez may have well won that fight

Marquez may have but he didnt. He lost both fights and I dont see what he can do in moving up in weight and fighting 3 years later.

Both fights were close, but he couldn't keep his ass off the canvas and that's why he drew the first time (had the one judge scored round 1 10-6 for Manny, he would have lost) and lost in the re-match.

I don't like JMM above 135, but I still think he provides a unique challenge for Manny, as opposed to the lumbering slow pokes he's fought lately. That being said, JMM has been getting easier to hit, and if he takes a big shot from Manny like he did against Kat, I think Manny could finish him off.

I'd rather see this fight than Mosely.

NJBeatdown86 wrote:

Both fights were close, but he couldn't keep his ass off the canvas and that's why he drew the first time (had the one judge scored round 1 10-6 for Manny, he would have lost) and lost in the re-match.

I don't like JMM above 135, but I still think he provides a unique challenge for Manny, as opposed to the lumbering slow pokes he's fought lately. That being said, JMM has been getting easier to hit, and if he takes a big shot from Manny like he did against Kat, I think Manny could finish him off.

I'd rather see this fight than Mosely.

I agree.

Or for that matter JMM-Judah

NJBeatdown86 wrote:

Or for that matter JMM-Judah

I would rather see that also.

Pac will run through him at this point but JMM deserves the payday. Plus the first two fights were close

personally thought Marquez won both fights

Wish this had happened over Mosley, but you know what I think Mosley vs Pac will sell well. I told my friends (who are big Pac fans) that he was fighting next weekend and one asked who, I said Shane Mosley and he was like holy shit thats gonna be a good one.

I think alot of cmomon fans dont realize how far gone Shane is

The main reasons the fight was made are:

1. It will sell well
2. Shane is on his last legs

and the biggest reason of all

3. It's an in-house fight for Bob "Yesterday I was lying, today i'm telling the truth" Arum

Birdofthad wrote:

personally thought Marquez won both fights

Wish this had happened over Mosley, but you know what I think Mosley vs Pac will sell well. I told my friends (who are big Pac fans) that he was fighting next weekend and one asked who, I said Shane Mosley and he was like holy shit thats gonna be a good one.

I think alot of cmomon fans dont realize how far gone Shane is

I thought Marquez won the first but it was very close. He has no shot to win a 3rd though.

Yeah I am glad Marquez is getting a nice payday, at 37 he should be looking for an exit strategy, and $ 5 mill will help that pension fund.

Ali wrote:

Yeah I am glad Marquez is getting a nice payday, at 37 he should be looking for an exit strategy, and $ 5 mill will help that pension fund.

He gets a payday yes but most of it will go towards hospital bills.

i think he will still give manny problems, mainly because Manny hasnt dealt with a tough counter puncher since then

Clottey countered, about 12 times during the fight
Cotto made the mistake of initiating Pac
Margarito looked clueless as to what to do when he realized his size wouldnt beat Manny.

Birdofthad wrote:

i think he will still give manny problems, mainly because Manny hasnt dealt with a tough counter puncher since then

Clottey countered, about 12 times during the fight
Cotto made the mistake of initiating Pac
Margarito looked clueless as to what to do when he realized his size wouldnt beat Manny.

I dont know what Marquez can do to Manny that Manny hasnt seen.

JMM looked great in his last go, and imo is the best fight for Pac(aside from pbf of coarse) out there at the moment.

Yeah I think he is the best opponent which speaks more for the landscape of Boxing more than anything. I think there is a lack of good competition out there right now besides older guys past there primes or guys that just arent as good as we thought.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6561253

Looks like this is close to a go. They'll meet at 144 catchweight

Manny is so much better now, but I love this fight, we all know FMjr will never step up, I'll take this.

timthebim wrote:

Birdofthad wrote:

i think he will still give manny problems, mainly because Manny hasnt dealt with a tough counter puncher since then

Clottey countered, about 12 times during the fight
Cotto made the mistake of initiating Pac
Margarito looked clueless as to what to do when he realized his size wouldnt beat Manny.

I dont know what Marquez can do to Manny that Manny hasnt seen.

Its not that Manny hasnt seen it, its that Manny isnt very good at dealing with it, damn near everytime we have seen Manny rocked it has been from a counter punch, also damn near everyone of those times was vs Marquez or Morales so I think Marquez is as live a dog as you get. Especially because Marquez still has a good amount left, people just try and piss on him because they dont want to give Floyd Mayweather credit (not saying you are).