By Chris LaBate
In a recent interview with The Philippine Star, boxing agent Michael Koncz revealed that he plans to advise Manny Pacquiao to avoid a fourth meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez. They clashed for a third time on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with Pacquaio winning a close but controversial twelve round majority decision. Their past two fights were controversial as well, with a close twelve round draw in 2004 and Pacquiao winning a twelve round split decision by a single point in 2008.
Koncz predicts a fourth meeting would be just as close as their previous three, and the controversy would only continue. He wants Pacquiao to move on to another opponent.
“I don’t think fans will want to pay to watch another Pacquiao-Marquez fight,” said Koncz. “What for? It’ll be as close as the first three fights and they’ll be debating forever on who deserved to win. Honestly, we wouldn’t have taken this fight against Marquez if the money wasn’t too good. Manny pressed the action, that was clear. Manny was the aggressor. Marquez did exactly what he knew he’d do. He waited to counter. Against an aggressor, Marquez isn’t going to win too many close fights that way.”
