By Mark Vester
According to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez will not beg for a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. Schaefer says Top Rank, namely their CEO Bob Arum, is not looking to make a third fight with Marquez because he would rather match Pacquiao against other Top Rank promoted fighters. They will look at their other options if a Pacquiao trilogy does not come about.
“Well, we all know Bob wants to do the in-house stuff, and that’s his choice," Schaefer said. “It’s clearly unfinished business there, but it’s all right. Marquez is not a beggar. We’re not going to go on our knees. There are so many other great fights out there," Schaefer told the AP. “We all know it isn’t Manny Pacquiao that doesn’t want the fight. It’s his promoter that doesn’t want to fight Marquez, and that’s fine."
Marquez plans to move forward if he can't get Pacquiao, with either a mandatory defense against Michael Katsidis, or a jump in weight for a shot at WBA 140-pound titleholder Amir Khan.
“I’m going to keep pressing on and doing my best, and if I get a chance with Pacquiao, I’m going to use it," Marquez said.
Schaefer took a stab at Pacquiao's next fight on November 13, against Top Rank promoted Antonio Margarito. Margarito has been unable to get licensed to box in Nevada since the California State Athletic Commission revoked his license last year for the illegal inserts found in his hand wraps prior to the bout with Shane Mosley on January 24, 2009.
“Juan Manuel Marquez is fully licensed and approved to fight in Nevada on November 13, just in case Bob is wondering," Schaefer said.
