SA halip na labanan si WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, inamin ni four-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez na may negosasyon na sa paghaharap nila ni dating WBC middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto at tanging ang catchweight na lamang ang kanilang pinag-uusapan.
Sa panayam ng tabloid na ‘Golpe a Golpe’ sa Mexico City, ipinagmayabang ni Marquez na natuldukan na niya ang hidwaan nila sa boksing ni Pacquiao sa pagwawagi via 6th round knockout noong 2012 kaya tinanggihan na niya ang alok ng Top Rank Inc. na malaking premyo para sa kanilang ikalimang paghaharap.
Huling lumaban si Marquez nang daigin sa puntos si dating interim WBO super lightweight champion Mike Alvarado noong Mayo 17, 2014 samantalang natalo si Cotto sa puntos kay Saul Alvarez sa huling laban nito noong Nobyembre 21, 2015.
May nakatakda sanang laban si Cotto sa Pebrero 25 kay James Kirkland pero nakansela ito nang mapinasala ang ilong ng Amerikano sa pagsasanay.
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“I was offered a fifth fight with Pacquiao for a very good amount of money. The economic factor is important, but what moves me more is legacy... it moves me more to have a great opponent in the ring,” ani Marquez. “With Pacquiao we closed that chapter and Cotto is a great fighter, he has a great legacy, the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry that is always at the top of the mountain.”
Gayunman, inamin ni Marquez na magsisimula na siya sa matinding pagsasanay para sa laban kay Cotto na four-division world champion din at huling pinatulog ni Pacquiao noong 2009 sa 12th round nang unang agawin ang WBO welterweight title.
“Logically it has to be a good offer, money is important but not so much... it would be an interesting fight, especially the rivalry. I would like a neutral venue, New York is the place for him, I would like Las Vegas - where both both Mexicans and Puerto Ricans can go,” dagdag ni Marquez. “We can make a great fight, a great entry into that rivalry, but I have to start training. It has to be this year. I have two years of inactivity. I also have to train and see how I feel.” (Gilbert Espeña)
