Sulaiman: "Pacquiao Has To Beat Marquez"

By James Blears

WBC President Jose Sulaiman has stressed that if Manny Pacquiao wants to be numero uno, then he’s got to take on and beat Juan Manuel Marquez.

WBC Super Featherweight Champion Marquez, is poised for a tough fight against rugged Rocky Juarez. But if he’s victorious, then the questions marks about a much anticipated rematch with Manny will re-emerge.

Marco Antonio Barrera leapfrogged over Marquez to lose a smart but cautious tactical fight with Pacquiao, even though Marquez’s victory over his fellow Mexican should have earned him the coveted rematch right.

Don Jose said: “Manny cannot call himself the best until he beats Marquez. When time passes and Manny wants to review history he will not find his name as Champion of the World in these years. He’ll see Juan Manuel Marquez there, but not him. And he might like the money very, very much, but when he gets older, he’ll look for pride and satisfaction.”

That said, Don Jose isn’t hopeful Juan and Manny will square up to each other any time soon. He observed: “I have my doubts. I do not see much enthusiasm in the Pacquiao camp to fight Marquez. I see enthusiasm in the Marquez camp. They mention it continually. He really wants to fight Manny.

“But Manny after defeating Marco, has not mentioned fighting Juan Manuel, and that’s very strange to me.”

After the near disaster of lightning striking thrice in the same place, resulting in the three knockdowns in the opening round of their first blazing encounter, Marquez gathered his wits and adapted fast, which gained him a draw. During the following eleven rounds, his counter punching style posed a number of problems for Pacquiao, who’s attacking style was handled with matador like skill.

Don Jose says the problems this created pose a linger challenge to Manny. He emphasized:

“Marquez already showed that his style is very difficult for Manny. There’s no more difficult fighter today for Pacquiao than an excellent boxer like Marquez. If you put a bull like fighter against Manny he’ll destroy him. But if you put a matador style boxer then I don’t know?

“But the problem here is not Pacquiao’s wishes, it’s the money and the people that talk to him. If he wants to live forever with respect of the whole world, he’s got to come out of that cave and try to defeat Marquez!”