Promoter gives Marquez’s terms to Pacquiao and updates Mayweather Jr.’s legal plight
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Juan Manuel Marquez has presented Manny Pacquiao‘s promoter a set of terms in which he would agree to have a third fight with the Filipino star boxer, Marquez’s promoter said Thursday.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank, has gathered similar term sheets from two other possible April 16 opponents, world welterweight champions Andre Berto and Pomona’s Shane Mosley, and will present them to Pacquiao when attending his 32nd birthday party in the Philippines Dec. 17.
Specifics of Marquez’s terms were not released by his promoter, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, but they included financial and weight limits that Schaefer categorized as ‘very fair.’
Marquez fought Pacquiao to a 2004 draw and then lost in a 2008 split-decision he disputed. Currently the world lightweight champion, Marquez scored a ninth-round TKO of Australia’s Michael Katsidis Saturday after Katsidis had knocked him down in the third round.
One of the barriers to a Pacquiao-Marquez bout is the friction between Schaefer and Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, tension which remained alive and well Thursday as Schaefer discussed Arum’s comments about making a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super-fight in the first half of 2011.
Arum told The Times Wednesday only ‘an idiot’ would blame Mayweather’s current legal plight in Nevada -- he faces felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly striking the mother of his children and threatening his kids -- for delaying negotiations for a Pacquiao fight.
Schaefer, who has promoted all of Mayweather’s fights since 2007, said Saturday his preference is to respect the legal process in Nevada before scheduling a Mayweather fight.
Arum said no elected Nevada judge is going to interfere with a bout that could generate $500 million in the state’s economy.
‘What kind of stupid comment is that from a Harvard lawyer?’ Schaefer asked. ‘Not everyone thinks money first. Money is not above everything. I don’t care how much money this is. There’s no price on doing things the right way, and if Floyd wants to let his legal process play out before he agrees to the fight, I support him.’
Yet, Pacquiao may want to have a next opponent in place before Christmas, and Arum has already scheduled the April 16 date at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
‘Floyd Mayweather is not on a Manny Pacquiao clock,’ Schaefer said. ‘Money is not above the law in Nevada or anywhere else in this country. And if believing that makes me an idiot, I’m happy to be an idiot. Money is not everything, and you cannot just always go out and sell yourself and base every decision you make on money.’
Mayweather doesn’t have another court date until Jan. 24, but legal sources in Nevada have said there’s a legitimate possibility his trial won’t even occur in 2011.
Schaefer said he hasn’t been officially informed by the Mayweather camp that the unbeaten boxer will not fight until his legal situation is cleared up. The charges against Mayweather leave him exposed to a lengthy prison term if convicted, so there might be urgency to make the lucrative fight sooner rather than later.
Schaefer, however, contends preparing for such an important fight with such a serious legal threat hanging overhead is a tremendous distraction.
‘If I’m told they want to deal with the legal situation, I’ll support it, agree with it and he has my respect,’ Schaefer said.
--Lance Pugmire
