Pacquiao, Marquez may clash in Macau

Manny Pacquiao, left, and Juan Manuel Márquez. AP FILE PHOTOT

MANILA, Philippines — If Juan Manuel Marquez gets past Mike Alvarado on May 17, it’s most likely he will be facing Manny Pacquiao again in November.

And, chances are, Pacquiao-Marquez 5 won’t be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, but in Macau.

Promoter Bob Arum reiterated his desire to stage Pacquiao’s next fight at the world’s new gambling mecca in an interview with Thavoice.com. “Juan Manuel to Macau? I don’t see why not,” said Arum.

“Because (trainer) Nacho Beristain is saying if Marquez fights Manny, he doesn’t want the fight to be in the United States because of the high income tax. What else could he be thinking of other than Macau?”

Beristain, who had earlier expressed reservations about the worthiness of a Pacquiao-Marquez 5, could be thinking of Mexico, where Marquez will have the hometown advantage.

Marquez, who initially scoffed at another fight with Pacquiao after knocking out the Filipino ring icon in the sixth round of their fourth fight on Dec. 12, 2012, changed his mind after losing to American Tim Bradley on Oct. 12, 2013.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, resurrected his career with a dominant performance over Brandon Rios on Nov. 24, 2013 in Macau followed by a convincing unanimous decision over Bradley in their rematch last April 12.

Arum announced his intention to bring the Pacquiao act back to Macau following the shabby treatment accorded him by MGM Grand in the promotion of Pacquiao-Bradley 2.