Marquez picks Pacquiao over Bradley, hints at 5th fight

MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez might fight Manny Pacquiao for the fifth time after all.

After dodging another rematch with the Filipino boxing icon following his sensational sixth round knockout win, Marquez is reconsidering his decision and hinted that a fifth fight is in sight if Pacquiao succeeds in avenging his loss to American Timothy Bradley and regaining the WBO welterweight belt.

The 40-year-old Marquez told ESPNDeportes of his future plans, which boil down to only two options: get that fifth division title or hang up his gloves.  

"You have to see what's on the table, what we propose, what rival, in terms of economics, if the fight generates interest for the fans, talking with the developer and make a decision, it is important to be active, to be fighting in May if I decide to continue and then to await the outcome of the April 12 fight," said Marquez.

The former four-division world champion and Pacquiao’s archrival is mulling to stage his next fight in front of his home crowd.

"It would be the option to fight in the Arena Mexico City in May, you have to look at situations, what they offer me, the opponent to make a decision that will be important and the result of Pacquiao and Bradley,” Marquez added.

The likely scenario is for Marquez to have a tune-up fight in May then fight the Pacquiao-Bradley winner in September.

In a separate interview with boxingscene.com, Marquez picks Pacquiao to win over Bradley in their rematch.

“First I want to say that it is an important, interesting fight, because of what happened in the first. In that fight the decision was different from what happened in the ring, and I think Bradley should change his strategy because it did not work [in the first fight],” Marquez told boxingscene.com.  

Marquez lost a split decision to Bradley after knocking out Pacquiao. In that October fight last year, Bradley delivered the best performance of his career in what he claimed as his his ticket to the Boxing Hall of Fame.  

It was an altogether different Bradley, whom Pacquiao fought in a controversial split decision two years ago.

“Pacquiao could fight the same but it is Bradley who needs to make adjustments. If judges do what needs to be done, Pacquiao should win. If Bradley makes the adjustments, it’s going to be a very good fight,” Marquez added.

If Bradley wins, Marquez would need to convince the American to fight him again. Otherwise, Marquez will retire after the May fight.  

"What Bradley does not see it as defeat, it was a close fight.  Many people saw me lose a lot to win, we did the necessary, we did not get the win, it's a sport of assessment, and if I decide to leave right now, I'm satisfied. I always said I wanted to fight Pacquiao and beat him and I did, now I want that title but not obsession, but as a great achievement, it would reach great success in my career,” Marquez told ESPNDeportes.

Now, Pacquiao has to get back at his tormentors for the chance to realize the dream showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. down the road.