Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez (R) pose for the media for the start of a series of a four-city international media tour of their November 12 bout. AFP PHOTO / JAY DIRECTO
Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao again found themselves on opposing sides.
The four-division world champion Marquez, who had four epic fights with Pacquiao, believes his Filipino rival made a costly mistake in making derogatory remarks against gays during a recent interview.
Pacquiao, who is running for a Senate seat in the May elections, is under fire after describing homosexuals and gay couples as “worse than animals.”
READ: Pacquiao boxing legacy stays amid LGBT debacle, says boxing analyst
Marquez feels Pacquiao has to pay for the consequences of his actions. However, the Mexican legend doesn’t think Pacquiao’s legacy will be affected by the controversy.
“Pacquiao’s legacy will not get stained by this, it’s something separate and he’s about to finish writing the final chapter. He made a mistake and he will pay,” Marquez told ESPN Deportes as posted on BoxingScene.com. “There is no doubt about his quality as a fighter, but there are times when the fish dies by its mouth. He lost his Nike sponsorship and the people behind him told him he was wrong.”
READ: Donaire: Pacquiao just voiced out his beliefs improperly
“And he is paying the consequences and he must assume [the reaction to those statements]. Sexual preferences are now open, a marriage of persons of the same sex is now open and he has to accept it.”
The 37-year-old Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division champion, plans to retire after his third fight with Timothy Bradley on April 9 in Las Vegas.
Marquez also lauded Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum for backing the apparel giant’s decision to cut its ties with the former WBO welterweight champion.
READ: Pacquiao refuses to back down on gay slurs: ‘I’m just stating the truth’
“[Arum] was right to support the decision of Nike. It was Pacquiao’s error and [Arum] shouldn’t be involved in something like that. Arum [did the right thing], people are going to come after Arum if he supports Pacquiao,” said Marquez, who knocked out Pacquiao in their final meeting in 2012.
“Pacquiao said he made a mistake and now he must accept the mistake and suffer the consequences. Pacquiao has to be more responsible [for] his statements, in what he says or declares and he won’t have these problems.”