Marquez-Pacquiao III a done deal

Photo by AP

MANILA—Manny Pacquiao’s confirmation, boxing pundits have long agreed, is as binding as a signed fight contract.

“Tuloy na po ‘yun, abangan n’yo (It’s on, wait for it),” Pacquiao said during an interview with ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo Sunday night.

The Filipino ring superstar was, of course, referring to his third clash with Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.

Marquez, the WBA and WBO lightweight champion, signed the contract—which assures him a personal-high $5 million purse plus a share in pay-per-view revenues—last May 19 at Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz is to bring the contract to Manila for the pound-for-pound king’s signature. Koncz has not arrived from the United States, though.

Under the fight’s financial terms, Pacquiao will get $20 million—virtually the same amount he earned in his lopsided unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley on May 7—plus a share in PPV revenues.

In their first tussle in 2004, Pacquiao settled for a draw despite knocking Marquez down three times in the first round. They met again in 2008 at 130 pounds with Pacquiao squeezing out a split decision on the strength of a third-round knockdown.

The trilogy is set at a catch weight of 144 lb with Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title also at stake. Marquez fought and lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the same catch weight in 2009.

If Marquez beats Pacquiao, a fourth fight will be held with the Mexican, who stands to receive $10 million.