By Dan Ambrose: WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO’s) isn’t interested in taking on any other lightweights after he finishes dealing with WBO lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KO’s) on November 27th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marquez, 37, has bigger fishes to fry. Marquez wants to go after Manny Pacquiao, provided that Marquez can beat Katsidis this month. In an interview at ESPNs Golpe a Golpe, Marquez said he wasn’t interested in fighting WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto or Jorge Linares. Marquez said “They are good fighters, but I am looking for bigger things, bigger fights after Katsidis.”
Marquez is making no secret about his wish to get a third rubber fight with Pacquiao so that he can prove that he’s the better fighter. Pacquiao and Marquez have fought twice previously, with the first fight ending in a 12 round draw in 2004, and then Marquez lost the 2nd fight by a controversial 12 round split decision in 2008. Rather than fight a third fight with Marquez to try and prove that he’s better than him, Pacquiao has fought Joshua Clottey, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and now Antonio Margarito.
Marquez is at least popular than Margarito and Clottey. That makes you wonder why Pacquiao isn’t giving Marquez a rematch. It’s up to Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter. He’s the one that chooses all the fights for him. There must be something about Marquez that is causing Arum to steer Pacquiao clear of him. I doubt much will change after Marquez gets through with the Katsidis fight.
I can’t see him getting a fight with Pacquiao following that fight, even though it’s a fight that makes sense. You can’t blame Marquez for not wanting to fight Linares and Soto. Those guys don’t bring in the big money that guys like Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. do. That’s what Marquez is partially interested in. I’m sure he wants revenge against Pacquiao, but the big money doesn’t hurt either.
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