Third fight worth more than $6M

LOS ANGELES – Freddie Roach said the Golden Boy Promotions $6 million offer for Manny Pacquiao to do a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez is not a perfect bait, stressing it’s too small compared to the purse the Filipino champion earned in winning the WBC (World Boxing Council) crown via split decision in Las Vegas Saturday.

“We already got $5.5 million for this fight. So, it should be a little higher than that,” Roach said of Pacquiao’s guaranteed purse, which does not include his share on the pay-per-view sales, ticket sales, closed-circuit and merchandise.

And even if both camps come to terms to complete a trilogy, Roach said Marquez will have to wait a little longer because the cut Pacquiao sustained will not heal easily.

“It’s a large cut,” said Roach Monday afternoon as he attended to his business at the Wild Card Gym where Pacquiao trained for eight full weeks in preparation for the classic rematch with Marquez.

Roach said the cut, which needed stitches in two different layers, inside and out, should heal after six to eight weeks. And this might just eliminate the possibility of Pacquiao fighting for three times this year or returning to the ring in June.

Regardless of who the opponent would be.

Then Pacquiao drove in, driving his all-black convertible, a 2007 Mercedes SL550, and paid Roach, and everyone else at the gym, a visit. It’s been customary for Pacquiao to visit the gym a day or two after a fight.

There, without the usual deluge of fans, Pacquiao and Roach had a few moments together. They must have pondered on their next move, whether to accept a third fight with Marquez or face someone else.

Pacquiao can choose to defend his WBC super-featherweight title against Marquez, and once and for all finish their unfinished business, or challenge WBC lightweight champion David Diaz at a heavier weight of 135 lbs.

Pacquiao and Roach are both open to the idea of a third fight with Marquez.

They even had their picture taken, with both of them flashing three fingers. They may be referring to a third fight with Marquez, or the third world title Pacquiao had won.

Or it’s both.

“Basta kami ni Marquez, kahit sampung beses maglaban payag ako (If it’s me and Marquez, we can fight even 10 times),” said Pacquiao, who came in sneakers, jeans, blue shirt and dark shades.

He was trying to hide the nasty cut over his right eye, sustained in the eighth round when the Mexican caught him with a perfect right straight. It was the best punch landed by Marquez in the brutal, 12-round encounter.

Pacquiao won it by the slimmest of margins, with one judge going for him, another for Marquez, and the third, last-minute replacement Tom Miller, winning it for the Filipino by a single point, 114-113.

The knockdown scored by Pacquiao very late in the third round might have decided the outcome of the very close fight that could’ve gone either way.

Roach was asked if he was ready for a third fight with Marquez.

“I think so. But we may have to wait until July. We may have to wait a little longer for Manny’s cut to heal,” said Roach, who thought Marquez suffered an even deeper cut than Pacquiao’s.

“Yeah, I think he sported a bigger cut,” said Roach, meaning Marquez should also need six to eight weeks for it to heal, before thinking of facing Pacquiao, and start training for a third fight with the Filipino champion.

Pacquiao said it’s up to his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, to work out his next fight, whether it’s Marquez, Diaz or even WBA super-featherweight champion Edwin Valero of Venezuela.

“I’ve never ran away from a fight,” said Pacquiao.

Yes, he never did. And he never will.