MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez is keeping alive his hopes to clinch a fifth world title in as many weight classes, targeting the winner of the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley this April.
But first, Marquez is mulling to take a “stay-busy†fight with Mike Alvarado.
In an interview with Lem Satterfield of ringtv.com, Top Rank chief Bob Arum confirmed the plans of the 40-year-old Marquez, pointing out the Mexican’s desire to win another championship.
"For Marquez, age is just a number. Marquez wants to keep busy because he said that he wants to fight the winner of Bradley and Pacquiao," Arum said.
Marquez has faced Pacquiao and Bradley, going 1-2-1 against the Filipino and dropping a decision against the undefeated American for the WBO welterweight title. He previously declared his disinterest in a fifth fight with Pacquiao – whom he knocked out cold in their last bout in December 2012 – but has since sang a different tune about facing his old nemesis again if a world title is at stake.
Pacquiao and Bradley will fight for the latter’s WBO welterweight crown on April 12, the same diadem Marquez wants to add to his collection of championships at featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight.
All the Mexican needs to do is get past Alvarado, a former junior welterweight titlist, in order to have another crack at becoming the first Mexican boxer to become a five-division champion.
Marquez’s promoter, Fernando Beltran, says his ward won’t take Alvarado lightly.
"We're not going to take a fight with Mike Alvarado because we're planning on losing the fight. We're going to win that fight and then we're going after the winner of Bradley and Pacquiao in what would be a sensational fight," he explained.