Marquez, who has been inactive for over two years is now frequenting his gym together with controversial strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia in preparation for his comeback fight.
In his recent comment on Pacquiao’s impending rematch against unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather, Marquez advised Pacquiao against facing Mayweather for the second time saying the proposed rematch will end up the same way it ended when they first faced each other in the ring moire than a year ago.
“I think it would be more of the same and fans want to see the Manny Pacquiao from five years ago… aggressive, with that power, searching for good opponents — but we hardly see him anymore. There are fights that are more competitive, good fights. Fans want to see Pacquiao against Keith Thurman, Pacquiao against Danny Garcia, Pacquiao with Terence Crawford — but the promoters will have to do what benefits everybody,’ said Marquez in a post-Pacquiao-Vargas fight interview.
Marquez has rejected a fifth fight with Pacquiao saying there is nothing more to prove who between them is the better fighter. He claims that he has won all four fights against Pacquiao since 2004, but the record shows that Marquez only won once in their four fight series.
For his lone victory over Pacquiao in 2012, he said the judges had no choice but to rule in his favor as fight ended in a knockout. Marquez has been claiming that he was cheated in the scorecards in his last three fights against Pacquiao.
Fans shrug off claims by Marquez that he won all fights. They are of the opinion that Marquez is just hyping his next fight and they believe Marquez is still considering Pacquiao for his farewell fight for another financial windfall.
The Pacquiao-Marquez fights have always been great money makers. Boxing fans enjoy watching them in the ring because of their own distinctive fighting styles.
Earlier this year, Marquez and his handlers had a lengthy fight contract negotiation with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, but the talks fell apart due to weight issues. Marquez wanted to have the fight at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, but Cotto, who has been fighting as a junior middleweight, could only go down as low as 150 pounds.
There are persistent reports that the Mayweatgher rematch is becoming more real than imagined as Pacquiao was reported to have an initial personal contact with Floyd Mayweather who was in attendance during the Pacquiao Vargas fight last Nov. 5.
Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach said Mayweather had a personal talk with Pacquiao inside his room after the Vargas fight.
“Mayweather came to the fight, and I heard they met later on in his (Pacquiao’s) room,” Roach confirmed in an exclusive interview with The STAR.
If the ongoing rematch talks fall apart for whatever reason, Marquez could rethink his position and consider facing Pacquiao for the fifth time.
