By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WBO and WBA super world lightweight champion Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO’s) is still chasing a third fight with pound-for-pound king and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao, despite the fact that Pacquiao appears to have left Marquez way behind in terms of achievements and popularity. Marquez would also like to fight Ricky Hatton, who stepped away from being an active fighter after Pacquiao knocked him out last May in two rounds. And Marquez would consider a fight with fellow Mexican Erik Morales.

He is scheduled to defend his titles in a rematch with former champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (35-3, 17 KO’s) on July 31 at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Marquez salvaged a draw after being dropped three times in his first fight with Pacquiao and lost the rematch in a close split decision where he was dropped once and lost his title dreams of one more shot at Pacquiao, believing that he had won the fights against the Filipino southpaw.

Marquez said - "Manny Pacquiao, that's my desire, I want it so bad.  I want that third fight with him before my career ends.  And maybe another one would be like Erik Morales or a Ricky Hatton, but Manny Pacquiao for sure."

When we spoke to Marquez before his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr he told us , “please help me get a third fight with Manny” even though we told him it was not up to us.

Pacquiao’s trainer, four-time “Trainer of the Year” awardee Freddie Roach, some time ago indicated perhaps Pacquiao should fight Marquez and shut him up but that is unlikely to happen especially after the lopsided loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr last September 19, 2009 in which Marquez was dropped in the second round and was clearly too small to fight as a welterweight in which Pacquiao holds the title he won by a 12th round TKO over Miguel Cotto.

While Mayweather Jr and his handlers tout his comeback win over Marquez who looked so much smaller in the ring, Marquez himself pointed out that what made it difficult was “the excess weight Mayweather had – an extra 15 pounds.”

Mayweather in fact weighed above their agreed catch-weight of 145-pounds but refused to lose the excesses poundage and preferred to pay a fine of $600,000 to Marquez.