Marquez boosts chances for 5th bout vs Pacquiao

Mike Alvarado, right, and Juan Manuel Márquez, of Mexico, exchange punches in the tenth round of a WBO welterweight title boxing match at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, May 17, 2014. Márquez won the title. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

MANILA, Philippines — Juan Manuel Marquez dominated Mike Alvarado in their 143-pound tussle yesterday and moved on the threshold of a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao.

The victory at The Forum in Inglewood, California, made Marquez the mandatory challenger to Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown and it’s now up to the Mexican legend whether he’ll dare face the Filipino icon in the ring again.

Promoter Bob Arum has booked a Nov. 16 schedule for Pacquiao at The Venetian Macao against the Marquez-Alvarado winner and all Marquez needs to do is to agree to the terms.

Even after his lopsided 117-109, 117-109, 119-108 unanimous decision over Alvarado, the Mexican remains non-committal.

Marquez announced during the postfight conference that he’d relax first and spend time with his family before making a decision.

And when he does, Marquez said it “will be best for my family and the Mexican fans.”

It was another deviation from Marquez’s earlier pronouncement that he’s willing to fight Pacquiao again.

This after saying that he’s done with Pacquiao after scoring a sensational sixth round knockout in their fourth battle in 2012.

Marquez proved that he has rebounded from the split decision loss inflicted on him by Timothy Bradley last year.

That defeat, coupled with his desire to earn a fifth world crown, made Marquez amenable to another rematch with Pacquiao, who beat him twice in a row following a draw in their first encounter.

Marquez showed that at 40, he’s still explosive when he knocked down Alvarado in the eighth round with an overhand right.

In scoring his 13th straight win in as many bouts at The Forum, Marquez raised his record to 56-7-1 with 40 knockouts.

After receiving $1.4 million for the Alvarado bout, Marquez can look forward to a purse of $10 million upwards against Pacquiao.