Marquez wants Pacquiao rematch

World Boxing Council featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez on Wednesday challenged Manny Pacquiao to a rematch after his upcoming defense against Rocky Juarez in September and the Filipino boxing icon’s second clash with Marco Antonio Barrera in October.

Ignacio Beristain, Marquez’s manager, said his ward and Pacquiao have an unfinished business to do and now that the problems between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank have been resolved, the Marquez-Pacquiao rematch should not be difficult to arrange.

“Deep down inside, Pacquiao knows that he lost to Marquez in their first fight and Marquez is convinced that he won that fight and that he will win their next one, too,” said Beristain in an interview with Boxingscene.com.

Pacquiao knocked down Marquez thrice in the first round of their 2004 encounter but the Mexican fighter bounced back to force a draw.

“Marquez said after a fantastic and busy year, he wants to end it by spending some quality time with his family. But he’s hoping the rematch with Pacquiao can be arranged in March 2008,” said Beristain.

However, Beristain said Marquez has to hurdle Juarez in the Sept. 15 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Marquez is actually set to take on Jorge Barrios, who had to withdraw after a medical exam showed he had to undergo eye surgery.

Beristain said that Marquez is ready to take the challenge of a new opponent, describing Juarez as a dangerous rival although with a less complicated style than Barrios.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao is expected to start his seven-week training in Los Angeles for his Oct. 6 rematch with Barrera.

Trainer Freddie Roach expressed his elation on the arrival of Pacquiao Wednesday and assured that seven weeks of preparation would be enough for the Filipino champion to get in tip-top shape.

“No question, because when Pacquiao shows up, he works so hard. In fact, seven weeks, I think, will be the longest camp since his fight against (Erik) Morales,” Roach’s assistant Rob Peters to Philboxing.com.

Peters added that “as long as Pacquiao is here this week, Freddie was alright because he knows better, he knows how Manny is and as long as he is here with a good seven weeks to go, it’s gonna be no sweat. That’s plenty of time for him because when he gets into the gym, he works like nobody I know.”