Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. AP File Photo
KUALA LUMPUR — Oscar De La Hoya is intrigued with the idea of another duel between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
The two rivals had an epic four-fight series ending with Marquez knocking Pacquiao out cold with one punch just before the bell sounded in the sixth round in 2012.
“It would be great. Fight for the ages. If they fight again we know it’s gonna be another war,” De La Hoya told Filipino reporters on Thursday.
“People wanna see it, I would love to see it.”
The first three duels were too close to call.
Pacquiao and Marquez battled to a split draw in their first bout in 2004. Four years later, Pacquiao earned a split decision victory before eking out a majority decision win in 2011.
In the fourth installment, Pacquiao was in control up until he walked into Marquez’s crushing right hand.
A fifth showdown, though appealing to De La Hoya and many fight fans, is unlikely to happen with Marquez already retired.
Marquez, a former four-division champion, announced his retirement in 2017, three years after his last fight where he dominated Mike Alvarado.
Last year, Marquez also reportedly refused to fight Pacquiao despite being offer $100 million.