Bob Arum today reiterated his previous stance on putting together Pacquiao vs. Marquez III, stating that he believes Marquez should face a legitimate welterweight before he thinks about taking on Pacquiao again.
Arum's suggestion was for Marquez to take on either Andre Berto or Joshua Clottey, both of whom are currently looking for fall opponents, and then to pursue a fight against Pacquiao if he gets past either of them.
Speaking to Lem Satterfield of Fanhouse today, Arum said:
"Let him fight Andre Berto, who is looking for a fight. Let him fight Joshua Clottey, who I promote and who I can get for him to fight. Let him fight a legitimate welterweight. Once he fights a legitimate welterweight, and succeeds, then, don't you think that we would love to put him in against Manny Pacquiao?"
For once Arum does have something of a point in that Marquez's sole appearance at welterweight was a complete blowout, and that a year later he isn't suddenly going to have improved. On the other hand, he was facing Floyd Mayweather, who tends to make most of his opponents look like they aren't fit to share a ring with him, regardless of size, so how he will look against a lesser opponent isn't too clear.
Equally, Arum also hasn't mentioned the fact that the welterweight division isn't the only option. Pacquiao is far from a big welterweight, and if he really wanted to he could probably still drop all the way back down to lightweight without any problems. Obviously his days as a lightweight are long behind him, but light welterweight isn't that far from where he is already, particularly given that he usually comes in underweight.
Would moving back down to light welterweight really be that difficult for Pacquiao at this point?
Of course not, by all accounts his trainers struggle to keep the weight on him at welterweight, and he came in a pound and a half under against Joshua Clottey. Further back he also came in at just 142lbs when he fought Oscar De La Hoya. So moving back down for one fight wouldn't be that much of an ask and it isn't as if he would have to cut weight and face the possibility of coming in weight drained. Not only that but having to climb up only five pounds would be easier on Marquez as well, and the fight would be more competitive and entertaining as a result.
If Marquez still isn't a viable option in Arum's eyes though, there is another available opponent fans would welcome in the form of Floyd Mayweather. Initially it looked as if his vacationing and other interests would keep him away from the ring until at least next year, but his uncle and trainer Roger Mayweather recently gave an interview where he stated that Floyd would probably return to the ring by the end of the year. Begging the question of who outside Pacquiao he would be taking on given that most of the big name opponents from 140-154lbs are all booked up.
That would probably require fully random blood testing to be in place, but at this stage that might be the best thing all round. The testing before Mayweather vs. Mosley was cut off well before fight time, and neither felt weakened as a result. Plus accepting the testing would fully clear Pacquiao's name, and probably help his defamation lawsuit against the Mayweathers, which is now set to go to trial.
If Floyd still isn't interested, and Marquez is somehow too unproven, then there are still a couple of other options out there if the fight against Margarito eventually proves too difficult to put together. Andre Berto for example is still available, and has a decent resume at the weight and holds the WBC version of the welterweight title.Richard Schaefer also mentioned Marcos Maidaia as a possible opponent for Berto, so why not Pacquiao as well? He might not be a well known name, but he is a dangerous and would make for an easy sell given the way both he and Pacquiao fight.
The chances are that Pacquiao vs. Margarito will still go ahead so long as the latter is approved for a license in Texas, although the public reaction to the fight running into difficulty should serve as a wake up call for Bob Arum. When Pacquiao ran into trouble during negotiations with Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather, the public was adamant that a solution should be found and that the fights needed to happen. The same thing happens with Margarito and the public are calling for the fight to be scrapped altogether.
George Damian, Pittsburgh: "Arum only wants Margo because he makes twice as much money. Look at him finding bulls**t reasons not to put any other fight together. Mayweather, Berto, Marquez, Williams, all available and for all of them he has some reason the fight can't happen"
Mike Brown, Philly: "Margarito is the best choice, but if he can't get licensed the fight might have to get scrapped eventually. Arum should give the public what they want and put Marquez in there. If it's one sided he can just say that's what the people wanted, what does he care? It's not like Clottey was competitive either"
Comments
George Damian,
Mayweather was available? Really?
i hate pacquiao to fight any golden boy's pets after how shaeffer and odlh treated pacquiao during mayweather fight negotiation.they were saying they wont let any of their fighters fight pacquiao w/o undergoing olympic style test.now they are begging pacquiao to give marquez a third shot????
Bob arum is trying to make money for himself as much as possible coz' he knows pacquiao will be retiring soon.
Mr. Arum you're too old to be still greedy of money, you can't bring that to your grave and you already are super rich courtesy of boxing. Floyd won't fight Manny out of fear of losing his precious "0" and I already have lost interest of that fight taking place. Now forget about the Margarito fight and bring on Manny-Marquez fight! That's what we boxing fans want to see!
Why are comments now working?
GBP is just want to make money on the pacquiao vs marquez old memories. De la hoya is a boxer and he knows...now he is a promoter and he lie to make money. As a high caliber boxer...how can he not know that Marquez is no match to Pacquiao. He even know that Marquez is no match to himself( Dela Hoya)....but he lies and lie and lie. That is why Hopkins is kinda separating from them........because Hopkins never lie about Pacquiao's capability. One easy thing that GBP can do is a Marquez vs Mosley match. ....but they already know what is gonna happen.......mismatch....... I say Marquez is history
Arum should think twice. He should think whats best for manny not what's best for Top Rank
DL Hoya also is pushing for a third Pacquiao-Marquez fight. What for? The only logical answer to this question is that Floydie Jr. is leaving Golden Boy Promo for Don King and with this it is bye bye for a huge cut in prizes from Floydie Jr's fight. A marquez-pacquiao fight will likewise provide GBP with big income. But is DL Hoya forgetting that practically, Pacquiao defeated Marquez twice already, The first fight was officially a draw only because one judge did not know how to add simple numbers which allowed Marquez to escape with a draw even though he was knocked down three times. For a third fight, I am afraid for Marquez as he was not doing well at welterweights unlike Pacquiao. A third fight might be a tragic end to his career.
If DL Hoya said Margarito should be banned for life for the illegal hand wrap which could kill, then he should not push for a third Marquez-Pacquiao fight. Because DL Hoya believes Pacquiao is taking PEDs and finds difficulty in accepting rigid random blood testing prior to the fights. DL Hoya is either greedy, inconsistent, or not thinking very well as a promoter.
agreeeeeeeable with bob Arum suggestion. even for katsidis or khan first. let's see boring boxer jmm can survive.
arum said let him fight andre berto,joshua clottey or tim bradley...tim is a light welter...
wat are you talking about author....he must prove himself before fighting pacquiao..
of course he can go back to lightweight but his good in light welter and welter,why he should
go back to lightweight to fight marquez,is marquez the number one pound for pound...no...
so hes the one who should move up in weight and he must prove it by defeating a lightwelterweight or welterweight..do you understand author...do you have a poor brain...
They said Mayweather jr will be fighting before the year ends.Why not fight Pacquiao instead.
They said Mayweather jr will be fighting before the year ends.Why not fight Pacquiao instead.
PACQUIAO VS BERTO OR PAC VS MARQUEZ III much better than margacheto.............
singgce dela hoya wants pacquiao to fight his fighter marquez,,, offer pacquiao a bigger purse so pacman will grab his offering,,,, this gbp boys only screaming that they want pacman to fight marquez but for how much??? how much money they can guarantee?? 25M or 30M or 45M?? give some figure oskee!!!
there's no need for trilogy in Nov.2010, b'coz the business is already finished. i believe there are other options for Pacman. 1. Cotto II , 2. Bundradge , 3. Dzinziruk for 8th Divisions titles.and for unification titles no.1. Berto, 2. Zaveck, 3. Senchenko .
WHY ARE YOU WRITERS DECIDING WHAT PACMAN HAS TO DO OR BOB ARUM? DONT YOU STILL GET THE POINT HERE? PACMAN IS UP ON A CHALLENGE, MUCH BIGGER OPPONENT WHATEVER YOU SAY HE IS! BERTO IS NOT IN THEIR LEVEL PLAYING FIELDS YET, HE NEED MORE CONVINCING WINS IN SOME BIG NAMES, AND ITS BUSINESS AFTERALL FOR BOB, WHY WASTE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT? DONT YOU COMMIT SIN? AND SHOULD NOT BE FORGIVEN? THE CSAC IS UNSURE ABOUT MARGA'S CASE THATS WHY THEY GAVE ONLY 1 YEAR, ITS UP TO THEM.. PACMAN IS OUT OF IT, HE JUST WANT CHALLENGE..WHATEVER YOU SAY IT IS.
Scott, it will clear his name?? as if he even tested positive in the first place.. only haters thinks that his guilty... oh i forgot.. you must be referring to the " guilty until proven innocent " thingy..
sorry, my bad....
Scott, it will clear his name?? as if he even tested positive in the first place.. only haters thinks that hes guilty... oh i forgot.. you must be referring to the " guilty until proven innocent " thingy..
sorry, my bad....
Bring on Pacquiao vs Marquez III, so Manny can finally shut his mouth and knock him out cold!!!!!
Leave it to the promoters, they are ones risking their money. Say what you want, the promoters are the key players here, we are just watchers, our opinion has its limits, we are not bound to be understood no matter how logical and rational our base is because we don't belong in their sanctum that organize every fight, again we are just spectators not movers.
Bring in Marquez for Pacquiao. We dont care if Marquez is blasted to pieces easily, as long as that is what the fans want. And this of course can generate more viewers compared to the Margarito fight..
I think Marquez should fght a legitimate welterweight fighter first before moving to option of fighting PACMAN. It would be a suicidal intent he is making now.
it's obvious that manny is looking for 8th division title.. i don't think margarito deserves a fight with manny. i would love to see of course mayweather and juan manuel marquez fighting manny.
If Marquez beat Bradley,Khan or Alexander I love to him fight Manny. But a unification bout with Andre Berto is more exciting and more fun to watch. I hope they conduct surveys for these.
there are other options for Marquez, let him face Clottey or Cotto first, if he wins, then we'll have Trilogy
what??? why would pacquiao go down in weights just to fight Marquez??? Marquez is asking for a fight then he should go after pacquiao's weight not the other way. I agree with arum, let Marquez fight true welther before asking Manny for a 3rd fight
Why insist on Marquez? Another boxer whose career is on the downside... to fight the Pac?
Cmon, I am a boxing fan, if I am to choose the fighters for the Pac fights, i'll choose them in this order: First, Mayweather, second, Margarito, thirdly is Williams, Mosley or Berto.
These fighters are competitive enough to give fight fans an exciting fight with the Pac.
F O R G E T MARQUEZ!!!!!
Marquez should fight delahoya, if he comes out of retirement and delahoya being the weakest among his peers at welterweight division, if he beats delahoya , then he could fight Manny again, bec. it could invite some curiosity among boxing fans, selling more at the gates.
What happens to the comments on this site?, how come I can't view them?
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