Pacquiao-Marquez #4? Yawn

NEW YORK CITY—The recently defeated Manny Pacquiao is back in the ring, scheduled to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8 in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao lost in a controversial split decision to Timothy Bradley in June, but a rematch is out of the question. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said, “Mr. Bradley doesn’t sell any tickets. There’s no business, there’s no money (in that match).”

Instead, a fourth battle with Marquez was confirmed in a September 19 press conference at a Times Square hotel.

“I think it’s not the right time yet as we also don’t know what God’s plans are for Manny and who he fights with.” It was Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee who offered an explanation.

The Pacquiao camp maintained the decision against Bradley “robbed” the boxer of victory. Roach vowed Pacquiao’s training for the Marquez match would be much more intense and aggressive. He said: “I want a knockout.”

“Ganun talaga kapag minsan hindi mo alam na may ibang balak pala iyong ibang tao pero ang importante, Manny did his best at walang masabi ang mga tao lalo pa’t alam nila na siya naman talaga ang nanalo,” added Jinkee.

Jinkee said she and her children were shocked then brought to tears by the decision declaring Bradley the winner.

“Na-shock ako na hindi siya ang nanalo, pati mga anak ko. Pero sabi nga ni Manny, may purpose siguro bakit ganoon ang nangyari.” She echoed Roach: “Knock out dapat ang gawin niya.”

“At least wala na ring masabi ang iba.”

For his part, Pacquiao said he chose to fight Marquez for the fourth time – a most unexciting match, according to fans and boxing pundits — “because I believe that we can give a good fight to the fans and we want the fans to be satisfied.”

Pacquiao counts two more years before he would finally retire, and that his last one would be historic. “I’m planning to have a fight in the Philippines before I retire.”

Some FilAms are not looking forward to the Pacquiao-Marquez fight.

“Not too fond of this fight,” said The Filipino Reporter sports editor L.P. Pelayo. “I would rather have the Timothy Bradley fight, but I know it’s not feasible due to the poor pay-per-view results it would generate.”

Pacquiao-Bradley is not an attractive match despite Pacquiao’s questionable loss. Neither is Pacquiao-Marquez, even if a knockout is anticipated. The only fight that would generate unprecedented interest

– and outstanding pay-per-view receipts — would be Pacquiao-Mayweather, but so far both sides continue to dance around the possibility.