By Edward Chaykovsky
Last week, former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez told reporters that he'll never take part in a fifth fight with career rival Manny Pacquiao, who currently holds the WBO welterweight title.
Marquez even went as far as to say that he'd reject a potential offer of "$100 million dollars" to take the fight.
The two boxers first collided in 2004, with a controversial twelve round draw after Marquez survived a first round that saw him get dropped three times.
A rematch took place in 2008, with Pacquiao winning a controversial twelve round split decision. Pacquiao secured another controversial decision win in their 2011 trilogy fight. But the fourth meeting saw both fighters go down, before Marquez knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth and final round.
According to Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who works with both boxers, he recently had a meeting with Marquez and the Mexican veteran made it clear that he would never fight Pacquiao again.
Marquez, inactive since May of 2014, is looking to have one final career fight before ending his Hall of Fame run.
“Marquez came to see us with his lawyer and he told me that under no circumstances, no matter what money it is, he won’t fight Manny Pacquiao. He didn’t say a hundred million but under no circumstances, he is not going to fight. The fight will never happen, according to Marquez. He is not interested,” Arum told The Manila Times.
Pacquiao, 38, has a record of 59-6-2 with 38 knockouts and Marquez, 43, has a record of 56-7-1 with 40 knockouts.
Arum also told the paper that he's the process of finalizing the venue and other details for the fight between Pacquiao and 2012 Australian Olympian Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 knockouts).
“I’m in the middle of finalizing everything. You know, it’s very complicated. I have to finish off with the Australians and the proposed deal in the Middle East. Once I finished that up, I have something concrete with Manny. After the Super Bowl next week, I think.”
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