Another megafight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao could happen after Saturday's night controversial majority decision in favor of Pacquiao. Photo by AP
LAS VEGAS—Top Rank chief Bob Arum had a lot riding on Manny Pacquiao Saturday night.
A victory would have given him elbow room to commandeer negotiations for what looms as the biggest match in boxing history.
A defeat would have been disastrous.
Not only would talks with Floyd Mayweather Jr—already treading a circuitous route—take the path that passes through eternity, but he would also have had to shell out an extra $10 million just to get to the bargaining table.
Pacquiao did eke out a majority decision over fierce rival Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, but somehow, Arum seems stuck in the middle of having won and lost.
“I’m bound and determined to find a definitive winner once and for all [between Pacquiao and Marquez],” Arum said after the fight. “If both fighters agree, they’ll do a rematch in May 2012.”
That rematch would not cost Arum $10 million more, though, as it would have, had Pacquiao lost.
A rematch off a loss by the eight-division champion to get him back into talks for a bout against Mayweather would have guaranteed Marquez that much.
But with Pacquiao’s rank in the pound-for-pound list expected to take a hit—Mayweather could overtake him after a four-round demolition of Victor Ortiz—Arum needs to draw Marquez out of his plans to retire and face Pacquiao again.
“Marquez deserves a rematch,” said Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach.
Whether or not Marquez still wants it is another question.
“I will discuss with my family if I will continue boxing,” said Marquez in Spanish. “But to be honest, this decision makes me want to retire.”
Marquez lost in the scorecards of two judges and drew with Pacquiao in one and he did not hide his disgust at the decision during a postgame press conference.
Arum, though, doesn’t think Marquez will retire. He could be just angling for a heftier guaranteed purse for a match that is almost virtually penciled for May next year.
“He’s not serious about retirement,” Arum said, cutting off a reporter who was about to ask a rhetorical question along those lines.
Pacquiao, who in turn is angling for a better financial cut if the bout against Mayweather is negotiated, said he is willing to give Marquez another shot at him—or take another shot at the Mexican, depending on whose point of view you’re taking.
“I want to give him a rematch,” he said after the fight, his statements drowned by the chorus of boos that rained on the ring along with debris after the decision was announced. “If we can work it out in May, we could do it.”
Arum is expected to make sure that does get worked out. But he will have more riding on Pacquiao when it does.