By Dallan O’Donnell: Freddie Roach, the trainer for Manny Pacquiao looks set to lay the ground rules over a possible third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez by telling Marquez he will have to fight at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds without the help of a catch weight.

Marquez the WBA/WBO lightweight champion currently fights at 135 pounds but has stepped up to the 147 limit before to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr, but looked slow and out of his depth fighting at an unnatural weight. The last time Marquez and Pacquiao fought it was at super-featherweight with Marquez coming in at 129 pounds and Pacquiao weighing 130 pounds.

It was an explosive bout with both fighters looking extremely sharp. Manny Pacquiao has recently beaten Shane Mosley but looked poor in victory looking over muscled. Pacquiao has used catch weights before to win big world titles and perhaps should allow another catch weight for this bout. Jumping 12 pounds is simply too big of a task for Marquez, and after a poor show against Mosley, Pacquiao would want to put on a crowd pleasing performance and a competitive match up.

To make this fight competitive the Pacquiao camp cannot force Marquez to 147. Pacquiao needs a vintage performance against Marquez and I believe he will find one. Both previous fights were exciting round after round, I expect nothing less this time, only if Marquez is allowed the use of a catch weight however. Even with the use of a catch weight I think Marquez will still be beaten but at least it would be a tough competitive fight. Were they to utilize a catch weight, they would also avoid the backlash of fans after the fight and Marquez could not have any excuses. Marquez looks set for a tune-up bout in July, possibly against David Diaz.