Juan Manuel Marquez insisted that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather should go up against each other, creating speculations that the Mexican boxing icon is really not interested in facing his Filipino rival again.
In an interview with BoxingScene, Marquez reiterated that fans wants to see a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather, and not Pacquiao vs Marquez 5, a fight Bob Arum is talking about over the past several months.
Marquez is looking to win his fifth world title in as many divisions, and is targeting the WBO welterweight title Pacquiao currently holds, but the 40-year-old Mexican sounded like he is firm in his stance about the Pacquiao fight.
"I keep saying, the fight to do is Manny Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather, which is interesting to everyone - more so than a fifth fight with Pacquiao against myself," Marquez said.
Marquez holds the bragging rights in his rivalry with Pacquiao after scoring a scintillating sixth-round knockout win during their fourth showdown in December 2012.
Marquez, who previously turned down numerous offers to face Pacquiao for the fifth time, has been saying that the Pacquiao chapter of his career is already over after winning in their fourth showdown.
The four-division champion will make his return to the ring on May 17 against Mike Alvarado, and Marquez said that his upcoming fight at The Forum in Los Angeles could be his last.
"I do not know if I will retire after this commitment," Marquez said. "My family is insisting me that I leave boxing for my health and for them, and they feel this is the right moment to devote my time to them: time which I haven't been able to give to them because of this work."
While there are talks about a possible retirement or a fifth fight with Pacquiao, Marquez insisted that he is not looking past Alvarado, who is expected to go all out as he is also aching to face the former pound-for-pound king.
"It's a good test, and against a great fighter like Alvarado," Marquez said. "They are talking about a fifth meeting with Manny Pacquiao, where I can capture my fifth world championship in a different division - but that is all up in the air. First we have to get out of this."
