by James Slater: Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer is just one of the influential people in boxing who followed yesterday’s appeal before The California Athletic Commission by Mexico’s Antonio Margarito with much interest. And, after the disgraced former welterweight champ saw his appeal fail, by a margin of 5-1, Schaefer has proposed a much better fight for Manny Pacquaio on November 13th – a third match with lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez.
In truth, Pac-Man-Marquez III is a much greater fight than Pacquiao against “Tony,” and Marquez has made that clear a number of times. Sure, Margarito may well receive the right to fight in the state of Texas, and this means his fight with Pacquiao is in no way dead in the water as a result, but Marquez is a much more worthy and formidable foe for Pac-Man anyway. Having fought to a draw with the pound-for-pound king in their first great fight, and having lost the closest of split decisions in the return, “Dinamita” deserves a third go at Manny.
Schaefer wants it bad, and he informed ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael that “Marquez is ready, willing, able and licensed! Let’s do unfinished business!” Schaefer also got in touch with Rafael and told him that “Marquez is ready to make a fair deal” for a third bout against Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, seems ultra-keen on his warrior taking on Margarito, however – “Tony” being a fighter Arum has stuck by ever since his now infamous “hand-wrap scandal” of 2009. And if Texas does as many people feel it will and licences Margarito, Pac-Man will almost certainly face him at The Dallas Cowboys stadium. But are the fans being cheated if this is the case? As great a series as Pacquiao-Marquez is, it needs a third, maybe even a fourth (if Marquez were to win fight-three) fight to make sure we all know who the superior fighter is.
Why is Marquez so willing to face Pac-Man, yet Pac-Man isn’t so keen to get it on with him for a third time? No-on is saying Pacquiao is ducking Marquez (or anyone else come to that), but a win over a Margarito that has to come in at a maximum weight of 150-pounds will do little for Manny’s legacy – even if he would pick up a light-middleweight title with the win.
Come on, Manny, do what you know is right and give the fans and the sport of boxing a guaranteed sensation of a fight (one that would be controversy-free at that) by taking on the 36-year-old from Mexico. You call the shots, Pac-Man; so call for this fight!