5th fight biggest ever, says Arum

HOLLYWOOD—The fifth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez is in the works. And it’s going to be colossal—boxing’s biggest ever.

Promoter Bob Arum said the quintology would be so huge it could eclipse the dream Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. showdown.

That is why Arum wants to make sure that everything is done right for a fifth Pacquiao-Marquez bout to happen.

Arum told The Times’ Lance Pugmire that a return fight on April 20 is no longer feasible.

This is so, he said, because the injuries sustained by both Pacquiao and Marquez in their brutal encounter Saturday night needed time to heal and it would need considerable time to promote a fight of such magnitude.

Though the original timetable was for Pacquiao to fight again on April 20, Arum said this has been shelved due to the shocking knockout loss he suffered against Marquez at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Arum, who turned 81 during Pacquiao-Marquez 4, said he is considering the worldwide attention given to Saturday’s stunning outcome.

“No. 5 is now the biggest fight in boxing, bigger than Pacquiao-Mayweather,” Arum said. “The idea we’d be ready to fight April 20 is ludicrous.”

Arum declined, however, to give an exact date for the next Pacquiao-Marquez fight.

He said he expects to keep Pacquiao-Marquez in the United States, with Las Vegas again the first-choice venue.

Though his star fighter Pacquiao lost, Arum was elated by early reports that Pacquiao-Marquez 4 surpassed expectations. If the numbers are right on the dot, the fourth edition will eclipse the 1.25 million buys generated by the third tiff.

“This fight shows the health of the sport,” Arum said. “‘Great fight’ shown all over it. The knockout happening right in front of the guy who was almost president of the United States, Mitt Romney. It puts the sport back in the mainstream.”

Meanwhile, Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee, who spent a night at their $2-million house near Hancock Park here, took the Monday night flight home in time for the birthday of their son Michael on Wednesday.

Pacquiao will celebrate his 34th birthday on Dec. 17 in General Santos City.

According to Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, the Pacquiao family will leave on Dec. 19 for their return flight to Israel, where they will spend Christmas and New Year.