Juan Manuel Marquez previously turned down numerous offers to face Manny Pacquiao for the fifth time, but after not getting attractive fight offers, the Mexican boxing icon is now reportedly open to the possibility.
Reports indicated that Marquez is now open to facing the winner of the upcoming rematch between Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has been pushing for the fifth fight, and the world-renowned promoter is reportedly confident that a fifth fight will be finalized if Pacquiao wins over Bradley in his next fight.
"According to sources within Top Rank Promotions, Marquez has expressed his desire to fight the winner of the Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley WBO welterweight title bout in April. The fight will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Top Rank promotes both Pacquiao and Marquez," a report indicated.
Marquez, who failed in his bid to land a rematch with last year's tormentor Bradley, plans to fight two more times before hanging up his gloves.
The 40-year-old Mexican has been very cold about the idea of facing Pacquiao for the fifth time, saying that he wants the memory of his victory over his rival to stay in the minds of boxing fans, but Monday's report indicated that Marquez has already changed his mind.
"A fifth world title excites me, but a fifth fight with Pacquiao does not," Marquez previously said. "The important thing is to stay with that feeling of December 8, 2012 - not just for me but for all Mexicans. We won't forget that date for a long time. I don't want to lose that feeling with a bad decision."
The fifth fight will have to wait though, probably until the last quarter of the year, since Marquez is reportedly leaning towards facing Mike Alvarado in his next bout.
The Mexican's promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions recently announced that Alvarado is Marquez's possible opponent in his next fight that would take place on May 17, but the four-division champion has yet to decide whether or not to accept the offer.
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