Marquez’s short route to Pacquiao trilogy

MANILA, Philippines–There’s a short route Juan Manuel Marquez can take if he really wants to fight Manny Pacquiao again.

 

All the Mexican World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association lightweight champion needs to do is beat any one of four fighters named by Top Rank honcho and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.

In an interview by FanHouse’s Lem Satterfield Tuesday, Arum mentioned World Boxing Council welterweight champion Andre Berto, Joshua Clottey, WBO junor welterweight titlist Tim Bradley and WBC and International Boxing Federation king Devon Alexander as the fighters Marquez needs to conquer to gain a third shot at the Filipino seven-division champion.

A victory over any of these four would make a Pacquiao-Marquez III a legitimate sell, according to Arum, adding that Marquez’s recent unanimous decision victory over countryman Juan Diaz was not definitive considering that it was held at 135 pounds.

 

Arum said Marquez has yet to prove himself as a legitimate welterweight contender, especially with the way he was thoroughly dominated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their encounter early this year.

To dispel the notion that he isn’t competitive in the higher weights, Arum said Marquez must fight and beat quality big guys like Clottey, whom Pacquiao outclassed in their 147-lb encounter at The Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

After repeating over Diaz, the 36-year-old Marquez reiterated his call for another tussle with Pacquiao, the Fighter of the Decade and pound-for-pound king who is slated to do battle with Mexican Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13.

In their first meeting in 2004, Marquez survived three first round knockdowns to earn a controversial draw. In their second battle in 2008, Marquez suffered another knockdown in the third round and lost to Pacquiao by split decision.