Marquez: I will fight Manny at all–even at lower–cost
Money would—again—not be a priority for Juan Manuel Marquez, who relentlessly wants a third encounter with Manny Pacquiao.
Interviewed Tuesday morning over dzSR’s Sports Chat, Marquez said he understood why Pacquiao, despite being the challenger in their second encounter, got more money than he did.
“Pacquiao deserves the money he got because he worked hard for it. But all boxing fans want to see us fight again. Now is the best time while people are talking about it,” said Marquez through interpreter and Mexican promoter Jaime Quintana.
In their rematch on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Marquez reportedly got $1.5 million as compared with Pacquiao, who supposedly brought home $5.5 million. Marquez, 34, was defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight crown which he lost to Pacquiao via 12-round split decision.
“Just make the fight happen,” was what Marquez told his promoter when they were still finalizing the fight purse for the return match.
Both Marquez and Pacquiao fought to a 12-round split draw back in May 2004.
Two weeks ago in the same program, Pacquiao’s American promoter Bob Arum said the Filipino boxing sensation deserves to get between $8 million to $10 million if a third fight with the dethroned Mexican champion happens.
“My promoter is offering him $6 million. But I think Arum is crazy, or he is just trying to find an excuse to avoid me. I know I will get less money, but I want the fight to demonstrate who is the best fighter. Let’s give what the people want to see,” said Marquez.
Marquez said his cut is well on its way to healing completely and that he will be ready to fight by June.
Arum is scheduling a June 28 bout for Pacquiao against WBC lightweight champion David Diaz also in Las Vegas. But Quintana believes Pacquiao won’t get more than $2 million against Diaz.