MANILA, Philippines – Now that Manny Pacquiao has proven he can still compete at a high level with his beatdown of Brandon Rios, his trainer wants the “Pacman” to avenge the two losses that he incurred in 2012.
Pacquiao lost to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez in contrasting fashion last year.
In June 2012, he was stunned when Bradley was awarded a split decision victory in their fight, which he clearly won. But in December, Marquez landed a picture-perfect right hand with a second to go in the sixth round that knocked Pacquiao out cold.
Pacquiao bounced back by routing Rios in Macau last weekend in what was his first fight since losing to Marquez last year.
Following the victory, trainer Freddie Roach said that he hopes Pacquiao can avenge both losses.
“Personally, I want Marquez, but the thing is I can’t be sure if we can get him to fight us,” Roach said, as quoted by Boxing Scene, noting that the Mexican wants “a lot of money.”
Marquez has also been reluctant to commit to a fifth fight against Pacquiao, repeatedly saying he is satisfied with having gotten the last word in their rivalry.
Roach told RingTV that he feels it is unfair that Marquez is refusing to give Pacquiao a rematch, considering the history between the two fighters.
“I don’t like the way he gloats about how he finally beat Manny Pacquioa, and that he got robbed all those other times and stuff like that. He turned us down for a rematch, but we gave him three rematches,” Roach pointed out.
“I think he owes us one,” he added.
Bradley, who recently beat Marquez in their showdown to retain the WBO welterweight belt that he won off Pacquiao, is another option.
“Bradley is out there,” Roach said. “I think Bradley is someone that we have to avenge that loss, even though he won that fight so easily.”
Unlike Marquez, Bradley has made no secret of his desire to fight Pacquiao again, as he wants to prove that he deserved his June 2012 victory and is also keen to beat the “Pacman” in more decisive fashion.
Roach also said they still want to fight unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao is tentatively scheduled to return on April 12, 2014, and his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, said they have yet to discuss the return fight.
“We’ll talk to Manny, we’ll talk to Freddie, but I know we are tentatively scheduled for April 12, hopefully in the United States,” Arum said.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
