Marquez, Bradley eager to put Pacquiao behind them

Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley. AP file photos

BEVERLY HILLS, California— Juan Manuel Marquez could have fought Manny Pacquiao for a fifth time. Timothy Bradley could have had a rematch with the Filipino congressman.

They both turned down chances to follow up on the biggest victories of their fighting careers. Instead, they want to face each other.

Marquez and Bradley will meet in a welterweight title bout Oct. 12 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas after both men rejected bigger paydays against Pacquiao.

Yet Pacquiao loomed over the fighters’ announcement at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Thursday.

Marquez knocked out Pacquiao last December, and the Mexican champion wants to savor that feeling for a while after failing to win their first three matchups.

The unbeaten Bradley says he will finally get the respect he deserves by trouncing Marquez.