Veteran trainer Nacho Beristain believes WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) will possibly select Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6, 39KOs) as his next opponent. In the next few days, Pacquiao is going to hold a meeting with his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank. Arum is going to present Pacquiao with four possibilities – Lamont Peterson, Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley and Marquez. A June return is expected for Pacquiao.

After three close fights, all smeared with controversy, Nacho expects the Filipino star to strongly consider his fighter for a fourth bout.

“Pacquiao is obsessed with beating Juan,” Nacho said.

Their last bout came on November 12th. Pacquiao won a close twelve round majority decision, with many at ringside disputing the final verdict. Nacho saw a few things that Marquez could correct for a fourth meeting.

“I thought Juan Manuel was a little slow, but he was very strong. He will work on that aspect. With more explosive speed, I’m sure Juan would have taken Pacquiao down. It was clear that Pacquiao was desperate [in the third fight], and at times he was attacking [Juan] with everything, but he couldn’t knock [Juan] out,” Nacho said.

There are several problems to prevent a fourth meeting. Marquez refuses to face Pacquiao in Las Vegas, but doesn’t have a problem with Texas. There are finances. Pacquiao has already made comments that he wants a guaranteed purse of $28 million for a fourth bout with Marquez. Marquez doesn’t have a problem with Pacquiao’s requesting a high purse, as long as both parties are taken care of. But with Floyd Mayweather Jr. reserving Cinco De Mayo weekend on HBO pay-per-view, Pacquiao’s return is forced to the month of June where a Marquez fight might not be a profitable.

 

By Miguel Rivera

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48276

Juan Manuel Marquez Fight Blog – Part 1

Judging from the first two fights, what aspect of Pacquiao’s game poses you the most danger heading into the third bout?

“I believe that Manny Pacquiao has become a much complete fighter, but his speed and power are still his most dangerous attributes”

Do you really believe you won the first two fights? Are you planning anything different in your approach to Pacquiao this time, especially given your belief that you won the first two fights?

“I don’t believe I won the first fight, I am sure I won them both, I just did not get the decision. I will do the same that I have always done against him, fight with intelligence, paciencen and counterpunch. My preparation will be different because I will fight at a higher weight. I have to make some changes in my diet and make sure I can still have speed and conditioning at the higher weight”

Training in Mexico City in the renowned Romanza Gym, where so many great Mexican fighters have come from, the three-time world champion Juan Manuel Marquez is getting ready for the biggest fight of an already stellar career.

HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all new edition when “24/7 Pacquiao/Marquez” debuts Saturday, Oct. 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the championship showdown in Las Vegas.

The Pacquiao-Marquez III world championship telecast, which begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 92 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao-Marquez III fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com

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