MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum reportedly met with Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Zanfer Promotions boss Fernando Beltran regarding a potential fifth fight between “Dinamita” and his Filipino rival Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.
Boxing Scene cited Jose Luis Camarillo and Miguel Rivera, who reported that Arum met with Marquez and Beltran in Mexico.
“We’ll discuss things with Juan Manuel for his next fight,” Arum said. “I agree that for this year, a fifth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Marquez is a priority.”
“There is the possibility (of holding the fight in) Macau or in the Mexico City Arena,” he added.
Marquez defeated Pacquiao for the first time in their long saga last December, when he knocked out the Filipino idol with one second to go in the sixth round.
Though he considered hanging up his gloves following his sensational win, Marquez opted to continue his boxing career. Recently however, “Dinamita” said he is not keen on fighting Pacquiao for a fifth time.
“Juan Manuel understands the business of boxing,” said Arum, who has previously claimed that Marquez was only "negotiating" when he made his statement.
“A boxer is worth what he produces, and of course if there is a big fight in store for him, he is going to make a lot of money,” he added.
Arum did admit that it is possible for Pacquiao and Marquez to face other opponents, including unbeaten Americans Timothy Bradley Jr. and Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios.
The Top Rank boss also guaranteed that if Marquez fights Pacquiao for a fifth time, the Mexican stands to receive the biggest purse of his career.
“The only thing that I can say is it will be better than what it was in December,” Arum said.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
