Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Will they do it again? By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
AFTER Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez figured in brutal boxing for 24 rounds in two fights that left both fighters bloodied and bruised, there is a strong clamor for them to trade punches for a third fight.
And now, the six million dollar question is this: "Will they do it again?"
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions that handles Marquez, basically opened the possibility of a third meeting between the two ring warriors when he dangled a $6-million offer for Pacquiao to face Marquez again.
Schaefer made the offer at a post-fight press conference after the Marquez camp cried foul over the result of the Pacquiao-Marquez II Saturday fight, which saw the Filipino walking away with a split decision win and the Mexican's World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight crown.
"Obviously Bob Arum is a more experienced promoter that I am so I am willing to buy out Pacquiao for six million dollars right now because this is the fight that fans want," Schaefer said.
Marquez himself boasted he could fight Pacquiao and even at 135 or 140 pounds.
But Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, is not amenable to the idea of an immediate rematch.
He said the fight will probably happen eventually, but only after there's a time to "put a little air under it."
"Nobody is saying wait another four years for it, but you've got to give it some time," said Arum, who eventually got pissed off when Ignacio Beristain blamed corrupt judging for his ward's defeat.
During the news conference, Arum cut off Jaime Quintana, co-manager of Marquez with Beristain, who kept on repeating that what happened, was an embarrassment to boxing.
"Be man enough to accept the verdict of the judges," said Arum, who banged the table in disgust.
Pacquiao and Marquez first fought to a classic draw in May 2004. Last Saturday, the two figured in another thriller that had the fans on the edge of their seats, with Pacquiao eventually declared the winner by split decision.
Arum is lining Pacquiao up for a big showdown with WBC lightweight king David Diaz in June.
The Filipino punching machine from General Santos City, however, made it clear he is not afraid of fighting Marquez one more time.
