Pacquiao confirms asking Tourism chief P3B to fight Marquez in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao wants a fifth fight with archrival Juan Manuel Marquez in the Philippines.

For this to happen, Pacquiao said he needs Php2.5 billion to Php3.5 billion.

The Filipino icon recently told a sports radio show that he has asked Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo for said amount, which would be used to stage the fight in the country.

“Approximately sabi ko sa kanya nasa 3 o 2.5 billion. Kasi plano ko mag-rematch kay Marquez tapos dito ko dalhin si Marquez sa Pilipinas,” he told hosts Boyet Sison and former senator Freddie Webb of DZMM’s Fastbreak.

The amount is roughly equivalent to a whopping $60 million.

Pacquiao obviously wants another crack at Marquez, who had the last laugh in their storied rivalry when he knocked the Filipino out cold in the sixth round of their 2012 bout.

Pacquiao looks headed for a fight with Australian Jeff Horn in April, the first of a planned four-fight “world tour” this year.

But the fighting senator said he prefers Marquez above all. The two rivals have figured out in four meetings, starting with a controversial draw in their first encounter in 2004. Pacquiao then escaped with close decisions in their 2008 and 2011 rematches.

“Maganda kasi ‘pag kami naglaban, hindi takbu-takbuhan,” said Pacquiao, adding he plans to make the fight happen in the last quarter of the year.

For her part, Teo likewise confirmed Pacquiao asked her to provide funding for a fifth fight with Marquez.

“Kinausap nga ako ni Manny Pacquiao, we talked and he said, humingi siya ng P3 billion for the fight,” said Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo in an earlier interview on DZMM’s Pasada Sais Trenta.

She said the only thing that would make it possible for the Department of Tourism to shell out money is if Pacquiao faces a big name.

“I was telling him, 'pag (Floyd) Mayweather o si Marquez, madali 'yung i-sell, kaya namin ang P3 billion,” Teo added.