Pacquiao sets term to fight Marquez

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao is gravitating towards a clash with Shane Mosley although he is not ruling out fighting Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time provided that Marquez’s promotional arm foots the bill of staging the rubber match.

“(I am) okay (fighting) Marquez but usually, I and Top Rank are also involved in the promotion and if they want Marquez, it’s okay with me (because) it’s an easier fight,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN on Monday morning.

But Pacquiao has a condition in case he agrees to face Marquez, who the Filipino pound-for-pound king describes as someone who doesn’t have an appeal.

“They have to promote it and they just have to give us a guaranteed purse because if the promotion doesn’t make money (in the pay-per-view), they’re the ones losing money (and not us).”

Pacquiao, who drew with Marquez in May, 2004 and beat him in the rematch in March, 2008, said a clash with the Mexican counter-puncher won’t intrigue the fight fans into getting tickets and buying pay-per-view.

“Marquez…perhaps nobody would care to watch it.”

Marquez is under Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), whose president Oscar De La Hoya, recently told the Mexican media that tops on their priority is making a third bout between Pacquiao and Marquez.

Of course, getting Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is the primary concern nowadays by just about anyone into holding big-time promotion but it doesn’t look like Mayweather will be free to engage in boxing owing to a few legal troubles.

So Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum is already making his move this early, setting his sights on Mosley.

Pacquiao and Arum are on the same page as to who will it be next.

“Mosley is okay, he is good and he is also a (former) champion,” said Pacquiao, who will likely be briefed about the future by Arum when he celebrates his 32nd birthday on Dec. 17.

The durable Mosley, who will be 40 in September, 2011, drew with Sergio Mora in his last fight last month and was beaten by Mayweather prior to that.

Mosley’s best wins were against Oscar De La Hoya (twice), Ricardo Mayorga, Fernando Vargas and Antonio Margarito.

Before Pacquiao mauled Margarito last week in Texas, Arum had already discussed some pertinent things with Mosley, who was at ringside during the Pacquiao-Margarito fight.

Pacquiao said his remaining fights will be fought at under 150 lbs.