By Jhonny Gonzalez
WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has taken Manny Pacquiao to task over published reports that a deal to fight "Sugar" Shane Mosley is close to being finalized for April 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Marquez doesn't believe that Pacquiao, and his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, actually believe that a fight with Mosley is the more appealing option.
Marquez doesn't care about the weight. He says Pacquiao doesn't care about weight, but fears the problems he will encounter in a third meeting between the two of them.
"I'll fight at whatever weight he wants. I have no problem. The problem is my style, not the weight. If the weight is such a big problem that it's holding up the fight, then let's go to welterweight and make the third fight," Marquez said to Sal Rodriguez. "At the end of the day, weight is not an issue because he will weigh 148 [on the day of the fight] and I'll be 145, as in my last fight with Michael Katsidis, who came in at 154, so there wouldn't be a problem."
"I'm not [Antonio] Margarito, who was very strong in the fight, but had no speed, no strategy, and without that you can not beat Pacquiao. You have to counter-attack him and make him think because it complicates things for him. I've done it twice."
With the weight out of the way, another issue is present. Pacquiao and Arum have said in multiple interviews that Mosley will draw more interest among the fans who will purchase the fight on pay-per-view. Marquez doesn't believe that.
"Now they say that the fight does not have enough interest for the public. I would like to ask what is more interesting - Pacquiao facing Shane Mosley who is coming off a draw and a defeat - or facing someone who hasn't lost but beat [Pacquiao] twice, although his record does not reflect it. So I think they [Pacquiao and Arum] are wrong," said Marquez.
