Marquez to fight Diaz with Pacquiao in mind

MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez has yet to throw a punch against Juan Diaz but he is already thinking of challenging Manny Pacquiao for a second rematch. Marquez will face Mexican-American Juan Diaz for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight titles on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Marquez and Pacquiao’s first match on May 8, 2004 ended in a draw. Pacquiao then won via split decision in their March 15, 2008 rematch with his third round knockdown of Marquez weighing heavily on the judges. Marquez believes he won that fight and wants another shot at Pacquiao to assure his fans that he deserves the status of being the only third boxer that brought down the Pacman. But a Pacquiao-Marquez Part III proved to be elusive for the Mexican after his rival jumped to lightweight where the cat-and-mouse chase began. Pacquiao challenged and defeated David Diaz for the World Boxing Council world lightweight title. He beat Diaz via a ninth round knockout. Marquez jumped into Pacquiao’s weight division where he fought Joel Casamayor, whom he knocked out in the 11th round on September 13, 2009. He once again called on Pacquiao but the reigning pound-for-pound king moved to welterweight to fight Oscar De La Hoya, who later became another casualty of the Filipino boxing icon. Pacquiao’s demolition job against De La Hoya cemented his status as boxing’s pound-for-pound king with fighters lining up to get a chance to face him inside the ring. Ricky Hatton is the one lucky enough to seal a deal with Pacquiao in a May 2 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Marquez, however, is still waiting at ringside adding that Pacquiao does not scare him and he hopes to face him again after his fight against Diaz. – GMANews.TV