by Miguel Rivera
For unknown reasons, World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman has attacked the idea of a fourth meeting between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, which takes place on December 8th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Although Sulaiman had at one point suggested the idea of having them fight each other for a WBC Diamond title, his organization is not involved with the match. The World Boxing Organization will present the winner with a special WBO "Champion of The Decade" belt.
"The fourth version of Manny Pacquiao vs. Marquez is a fight without any importance, because there is no championship at stake. It is a fight that only interests those in Mexico and the Philippines, and [the match is] not drawing attention anywhere else in the world. It is a fight with only a single purpose, to fill the date and nothing more," Sulaiman told Yahoo Deportes.
There is nothing new here. Last November, when Pacquiao-Marquez III took place, Sulaiman ripped that meeting as well. The WBO welterweight title was at stake in that match.
Sulaiman said at the time - "Marquez is a lightweight and a move to welterweight would give all of the advantages to Pacquiao. It's a fight that in no way should be done. Marquez is a great fighter, but there is a big difference between the current weights of both boxers."
Marquez lost a twelve round majority decision that many had scored as a victory for the Mexican veteran.