Posted at 03/15/2013 9:45 PM | Updated as of 03/15/2013 9:45 PM
MANILA – Boxing promoter Bob Arum says nobody’s forcing Juan Manuel Marquez to face Manny Pacquiao a fifth time.
The Top Rank CEO said both Pacquiao and Marquez are free to choose who they want to fight next.
"Marquez and Pacquiao are not puppets and I'm not moving the puppets," Arum told ESPNews.
The veteran promoter has often been criticized for allegedly manipulating the careers of the boxing stars fighting under Top Rank promotions.
All of Pacquiao’s fights with Marquez have scored big at the gate. A fifth fight between the two superstars is a guaranteed hit.
Arum pointed out he presented Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios as Marquez’s alternative to Pacquiao.
“If Marquez and Manny decide to fight this year, then I’ll try to make Rios and Bradley. If Manny and Marquez won’t fight this year, one of them can fight Bradley and the other can fight Rios,” the promoter earlier said.
"These men have their own desires of who they want to fight or ask how much money would available with every [possible] fight. I do not care. All these fights are good fights and let them choose."
Marquez recently reiterated his claim that Pacquiao is not among his priorities for his ring return in September.
The Mexican fighter said he has already accomplished his goal when he knocked the Filipino out last December.
“We already accomplished that objective,” said Marquez.
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento