Arum: Wait Till 2013 For Pacquiao-Mayweather

Juan Manuel would very much like a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao, and he just might get that in the fall, his promoter Bob Arum indicated on a Wednesday conference call to hype Marquez' April 14 scrap against Sergey Fedchenko, which will unfold in Mexico and on pay-per-view.

“Hopefully, he's on the path to fight Manny Pacquiao later in the year,” said Arum. Folks who are hoping that Pacquiao would get in the ring with Floyd Mayweather in the next fight for both following their June and May (against Tim Bradley and Miguel Cotto) tussles can keep on hoping, sad to say. “You have to be realistic about this,” Arum said. “I don't think Mayweather will be available in the fall and he doesn't indicate he wants to fight him. We're better off thinking about that fight next year.” If Pacquiao fights on–not a given, considering his age (33), and immersion in the political realm–Arum said he's “planning, hoping the Mayweather fight might take place next year.”

There you go, the can kicked down the road again.

Arum said there's a great chance the 38 year-old Marquez for his next fight, if he gets past the Ukrainian Fedchenko (age 30; 30-1 with 13 KOs), would take on Brandon Rios, who fights Richard Abril, subbing for the no-show Yuriorkis Gamboa, on the Mexico Marquez card. Arum has Cowboy Stadium in Dallas on hold for July 14 for the JMM-Rios scrap, though he said that nothing has progressed beyond a rough outline.

Marquez, who will battle Fedchenko for the vacated WBO junior welter crown, sounded ready to rock, and it didn't seem like hurt feelings lingered excessively from his latest disappointment against Pacman, in which he lost a majority decision many felt he deserved to win. Marquez, speaking English capably, said he did indeed consider retiring, but decided that he wanted to fight on, and secure another chance to prove to the world he's better than Pacquiao. “I've come back to this sport because I want the rematch,” he explained. He came back again and again to the topic of a fourth Pacman fight, for the record…

“Juan Manuel deserves a rematch,” Arum said. “I would think that's what I'd be focusing on…Manny can chase the wild rabbit in the TV commercial but as a promoter I can't chase a wild rabbit.” Arum was referring to this Hennessy cognac TV ad. Arum explained that Pacquiao indicated that he is open to a fourth fight against his Kryponite, but didn't want to do it right after his third scrap with the Mexican legend.

If I'm Fedchenko, I'm happy Marquez seems at least mildly obsessed with a fourth Pacman fight, as that helps my chances for the upset. That said, based on his resume, which doesn't blow you away with it sterling nature, I think Marquez, still a master craftsman, can afford to operate with one eye on Pacquiao.

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