As we previously announced Top Rank offered Juan Manuel Marquez a 5 million dollar contract to fight Manny Pacquiao on the first week of November. Early this week, it was announce by Top Rank CEO Bob Arum that Marquez had signed and agreed to the contract terms which stated he will meet Pacquiao at 144 pounds, three pounds below the welterweight division limit of 147. Pacquiao regularly weighs below 147 for his fights and Marquez would be moving up from the 135-pound division.
Juan Manuel Marquez walked away from Golden Boy Promotions to make this fight happen. Marquez, 37, has wanted a third fight with Pacquiao for years and is poised to land it because Golden Boy, his longtime promoter, declined to match Top Rank’s offer. In Marquez’s contract with Golden Boy there was a clause which allowed Golden Boy to match any offer.
Golden Boy apparently was unable to come up with an opponent for Marquez that would meet the terms of Top Rank’s offer: $5 million in guaranteed money, $5 per buy over 850000 pay-per-views sold and a guaranteed $10 million plus pay-per-view upside for a rematch in the event Marquez wins.
Golden Boy offered Marquez a fight with Victor Ortiz. Although Ortiz is the runner up for the fight of the year when he beat Andre Berto, Ortiz doesn’t have pay per view drawing power.
Golden Boy also offered Marquez a chance to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the Mexican sensation who recently won a junior middleweight belt. However, with Top Rank’s offer specifying 144 pounds there was no way Alvarez could get down that low.
Golden Boy Promotion’s doesn’t have a fighter that will lure boxing fans to fork out the pay per view fees which left Marquez no choice but to go with Top Rank.
Juan Manuel Marquez has showed interest in a tune-up fight against former lightweight titlist David Diaz (36-3-1, 17 KOs) on July 2 in Mexico City. Let’s just hope he makes the right decision, better yet let’s hope he wins because if Marquez loses he’s out of the picture. Bob Arum made it clear that if Marquez loses, he’s out.
“He’s going to do that fight, and if he loses, he’s out,” Bob Arum told ESPN.
This fight will happen at what ever weight Roach & Pacman say cuz there not desprite for this fight, JMM is. JMM should just be happy they didnt say 147. Plus it would be stupid for Pacman to put himself at a disadvantage by going to low in weight. Pacman has been fighting at a higher weight for a while now, it doesnt make sence for him to go to low. I think this will go the distance again, if there is a knock out I think it will be Manny dropping Marquez.
I agree with everyone that says that this fight should be at 140 lbs. Team Pacquiao knows that Marquez is not as dangerous above that.
Juan Manuel Marquez will K.O Pacman. Marquez Beats Pacman TWICE..
@Bill Major, I agree, Look what happen to Marquez when he tried to move up in weight.
Pacquiao will KO marquez at this weight . hes at the top of his game and marquez isnt . id rather a worn but dangerous marquez / ortiz match with the way ortiz is looking from berto. for us die hard gym rats and fans ,its PPV gold for the promotors that they dont see.
I dont know why they say It will at 147, Pacman is always under.
This is a fight that should be no higher than 140 and is definitely doable for both fighters. Pisses me off Marquez has to do all work of gaining weight on top of training while Pacquaio can just come in comfortably at 144 and we all know how Marquez looked at 142 not sharp and slow. I will no doubt be rooting for Marquez 100% when he meets Pacquiao and I feel he will be able to get by David Diaz but its certainly no tune-up and not the best fight to take before a major fight. This is simply the work of Arum/Roach trying to make Marquez come in at his worst and let Pacquiao collect another easy payday. Screw that, I hope Marquez comes out on top he deserves to and just to stick to them for trying to make easy money off him. Go Marquez!!!
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