Marquez closes door on 5th fight with Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao gets hit with a solid right by Juan Manuel Marquez. AP

LAS VEGAS — Juan Manuel Manuel has closed the door on a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao.

“What’s the point?” Marquez asked Filipino sportswriters at an exclusive club at MGM Grand here Friday. “If it (fourth fight) was close, maybe. But you know what happened in December 2012.”

That time, Pacquiao double-faked an attack on a bloodied Marquez before lunging in.

Marquez, thoroughly familiar with Pacquiao’s style, didn’t bite and waited for his arch rival before unloading a bomb that landed flush on the chin.

Not even Pacquiao could survive that as the punch’s force doubled upon impact as the Filipino ring icon met it head-on.

With just one second to go in the sixth round, Pacquiao tumbled face first to the ring, motionless. Lulled into deep sleep for about a minute.

In an instant, Marquez became the Mexican icon as he salvaged the Philippine pride who had felled many a Latino warrior, among them Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.

Still trim and fit at 42, Marquez is living the good life back home, secured in his finances and occasional work as television commentator for ESPN Deportes.

Nixing another fight with Pacquiao, who drew with him in their first encounter before taking the next two by decision, doesn’t mean that Marquez is leaving boxing for good.

The four-time world champion in as many divisions said he’s “good for two more fights.” He said he exercises and trains nearly every day, trying to find out whether his body is still capable of fighting again.

Marquez’s ring return was slowed down by a right knee injury, which he said has healed completely.

Having also fought and lost to Bradley in 2012, Marquez can surmise what will happen during Pacquiao-Bradley III.

Refusing to make a pick, Marquez merely said “it will be an interesting fight.”

He shared an observation though. According to Marquez, Pacquiao seems lacking in focus due to his multiple commitments.

In contrast, Bradley is thoroughly motivated by his desire to be remembered as the guy who sent Pacquiao riding into retirement on the saddle of defeat.