Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, a congressman in the lone province of Sarangani in the Philippines, is scheduled to fight “Sugar” Shane Mosley today (Saturday, May 7, 2011) at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will defend his WBO (World Boxing Organization) Welterweight Crown at 147-pounds; this time, without a “catch-weight”.
If the Filipino ring icon loses to the former three-division champion, a compulsory Pacquiao vs Mosley rematch will happen later this year. But if Pacman prevails against Shane, a trilogy against Juan Manuel Marquez will be the most sensible next fight for him because the Pacquiao vs Mayweather can't be settled because of the legal troubles Floyd is currently facing.
“There's a big possibility, 80 percent, that Marquez is going to be my next opponent,” Pacquiao said during his speech on Wednesday's final press conference at the Hollywood Theater of the MGM Grand Hotel.
Many analysts believe that Juan Manuel Marquez will give Pacquiao a hard-fought fight if they clash for the third time. In 2004, the first fight between Pacquiao and Marquez, the Mexican suffered three knockdowns in the first round alone. He fought back in the later rounds and ended the fight in a draw. Pacquiao should have won that fight if one of the referees scored the first round correctly at 10-6. The ref admitted his fault by scoring 10-7, later on.
Pacman and Marquez met again four years later. Marquez fell in the third round of that fight but recovered in the later rounds. Marquez lose by split decision which many thought he won it.
Since then, Juan Manuel has his eye on Pacquiao, who then moved up several weight divisions and won eight different championships in as much weight classes.
Marquez thought he can compete at Pacquiao’s current weight, so he challenged the undefeated Floyd Mayweather at 144 pounds only to lose in awry fashion.
The trilogy between Marquez and Pacquiao is not settled yet because Marquez had to balance Golden Boy’s counter-offer. He doesn’t know which weight class they will fight; but it’s almost certain, the weight class will be below 147 pounds because Marquez already learned his lesson against Mayweather, the boxer to hand Shane Mosley’s last defeat.
For Marquez’s fans, watch out for the Pacquiao vs Mosley fight on Saturday and pray that Manny will win the fight. If he does, pray again that Marquez will accept the offer so both he and Pacquiao will finally settle the score.
Pacquiao vs Marquez on November 12, 2011
