MANILA, Philippines — While Shane Mosley has the full backing of promoter Bob Arum as the leading candidate to face Manny Pacquiao in 2011, Juan Manuel Marquez remains in the mix as Marquez’s promotional team will move heaven and earth to make a third fight happen with the Filipino pound-for-pound king.
Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) big boss Oscar De La Hoya told the Mexican media that a third meeting between Pacquiao and Marquez should be made owing to the controversial outcome to their rematch held in March 2008.
De La Hoya said Marquez “was robbed” of a win over Pacquiao, who eked out a 12-round split decision.
Interestingly, Pacquiao and Marquez had battled to a 12-round split draw the first time they collided in May 2004.
“We will continue looking for that (third) fight (with Pacquiao),” De La Hoya told Ernesto Castellanos of notifight.com.
De La Hoya, who was sent into retirement by Pacquiao after a stoppage loss in Dec. 2008, added: “It is Pacquiao who is avoiding Marquez.”
The first Pacquiao-Marquez showdown was at featherweight (126 lbs), while the second was at super-feather (130). Should a third takes place, it will either be at super-lightweight (140) or at a catch weight of 145 lbs (welterweight).
Pacquiao is coming off a hard-earned 12-round unanimous decision win over Antonio Margarito in Texas and according to his Canadian adviser Mike Koncz, “boxing is still far from his mind.”
“I haven’t talked to him about boxing,” said Koncz. “It’d be better if he relaxes first.”
Members of Team Pacquiao are not on the same page as to who to fight next.
Conditioning coach Alex Ariza said he prefers Marquez over everyone else because if it’s Mosley “Manny might not even train for that fight.”
Pacquiao’s close friend, Cebu promoter Wakee Salud, also believes Marquez is a much better alternative in the event a match with Floyd Mayweather doesn’t materialize.
Arum and Koncz, however, are singing the same tune: They both want Mosley.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is arriving in Manila from Los Angeles via Philippine Airlines at 5 a.m. Saturday.
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