Pacquiao on Marquez’s mind no more?

MANILA, Philippines – If the current pound-for-pound king doesn’t bite, the previous holder of the title will suffice for Juan Manuel Marquez. Unsuccessful in wooing P4P kingpin Manny Pacquiao to another rematch, lightweight champ Marquez has called out retired superstar Floyd Mayweather, Jr. after knocking out Juan Diaz. And in an apparent dig at Pacquiao, the newly-crowned World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Organization 135-lb kingpin even called Mayweather as the best P4P fighter. "He (Mayweather) is a great fighter. Manny Pacquiao does not want to fight me. I want the best pound for pound fighter, and that's Floyd Mayweather," the 35-year-old Marquez said in a report by the LA Boxing Examiner. Pacquiao and Marquez had fought twice before, with the first meeting ending in a controversial draw and the second showing the Filipino bomber as the winner, a result that Marquez had repeatedly contested. The Mexican had even gone to the Philippines to challenge Pacquiao but the Pac Man had shown little or no interest in a third duel. Since beating Marquez, Pacquiao has gone on to beat lightweight titlist David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya to solidify his grip of the P4P title, a distinction that Mayweather held before his retirement last year. But before anything else, Pacquiao is set to slug it out with British gladiator Ricky Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. -GMANews.TV