By Miguel Rivera
During his recent appearance in Mexico City to honor WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido, the president of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Francisco "Paco" Valcárcel, said that he expects a third fight to take place between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao. Marquez is the WBO's lightweight champion, while Pacquiao holds the WBO's welterweight crown. Marquez has an offer on the table for a fall trilogy. The offer reportedly includes a $5 million dollar guarantee plus a pay-per-view percentage.
Paco said that he's been in contact with Top Rank, who promote Pacquiao, and he's also spoken to Golden Boy Promotions, who have the right to match any offer Marquez receives. But more important, Paco said that he "personally spoke with Marquez" and the Mexican veteran "requested permission" to move up in weight to fight Pacquiao.
"It's a great honor for us to see two champions [in the ring] from our sanctioning body and the fight will probably happen between 140 and 147 pounds," said Paco.