By Keith Idec

NEW YORK – Juan Manuel Marquez was one of the opponents Manny Pacquiao says he considered for what the Filipino superstar insists will be the last fight of his 21-year pro career.

Marquez continued to resist the monetary temptation of a fifth fight against Pacquiao, however, just as the Mexican legend has done since he knocked Pacquiao unconscious in their fourth fight three years ago. The 37-year-old Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) instead settled for a seemingly unnecessary third fight against Timothy Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs, 1 NC) on April 9 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (HBO Pay-Per-View).

There would’ve been more media and fan interest in a fifth fight against Marquez because of the way their fourth fight ended, but Pacquiao claims he isn’t bitter about not getting an opportunity to redeem himself.

“It’s OK,” a laughing Pacquiao said before a press conference Thursday in The Theater at Madison Square Garden to promote the third Bradley bout. “Let him enjoy what he did to me. Give him credit.”

Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach are resigned to the idea that after settling for a draw, a split-decision defeat and a majority decision loss to Pacquiao in their first three fights, Marquez wants to leave well enough alone after knocking out Pacquiao with a right hand in the sixth round of their December 2012 battle at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“He likes the way that last one ended, I think, too much,” Roach said, before adding, “of course it is” the reason a fifth fight hasn’t happened.

The 42-year-old Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) hasn’t fought since scoring a unanimous-decision win against Mike Alvarado (34-4, 23 KOs) in May 2014 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.