By Mark Havey: Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2, KO’s 38) has everyone talking right now. His contentious loss to unbeaten Timothy Bradley left some outraged and others delighted. It seemed simple how the next few months would play out. Pacquiao would rest, spend some time with his family, attend to his various jobs outside of boxing, start a training camp and then fight Bradley again.

Nothing is that simple when Bob Arum is involved. I remember Pacquiao saying at the post fight press conference that he wanted a rematch but it up to Arum. Arum replied “you want a rematch Manny? You got it”. So why the change of heart?

Suddenly Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, KO’s 39) is being mentioned as the next opponent for Pacquiao. I don’t understand it. I love Mexican boxers and Marquez is my favourite, but there is nothing to gain. They have already fought 3 times and all of them close. Some say Pacquiao is ahead, some say Marquez. Regardless of the results from past fights, a 4th will be no different. Pacquiao is too good for Marquez to beat in a convincing fashion. But Marquez has mastered the counter punch on Pacquiao and is to awkward for Manny to gain a decisive victory.

A fourth fight wouldn’t settle anything. It will be the same story as before. The result will never please everyone because they fight will be close. Most people saw Marquez as the winner in the last fight and I can understand both sides. Judges score fights on what impresses them, and each judge is different. The popular view is that a round is scored on punches landed, and most judges score on that basis. But not all. It isn’t a rule set in stone, consequently there is no punch scoring system in place. Pacquiao landed more punches than Marquez so a lot of judges would think he won. But the judges of that fight were clearly impressed with the game plan that was carried out flawlessly by Marquez. There was no right or wrong. But a fourth fight will be a no win situation for everyone except Arum who will cash in. The fans will feel robbed and the winner won’t get recognition.

If a rematch against Bradley isn’t going to happen, Bob Arum should put everything into making the Mayweather fight for November.