'Golden Boy' bats for Pacquiao-Marquez III

In the light of Antonio Margarito's failure to get his license back from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), Oscar De La Hoya is batting instead for veteran warrior Juan Manuel Marquez to be Manny Pacquiao’s November 13 opponent. Aside from opposing to have Margarito licensed again, De La Hoya, known as the "Golden Boy" of boxing, also firmly believes a third and hopefully a final installment of a Pacquiao-Marquez bout is what fight fans are clamoring for. "I want to make a strong case for Marquez. Not only for myself, because I want to watch that fight, but for all of the fans around the world who want to watch that trilogy. I think that it's only fair," said De La Hoya in a conference call. "The right thing is making a third fight with Marquez. Marquez is willing to fight him." The Golden Boy made the pitch just hours after Margarito was denied by the CSAC of a new boxing license, a year after serving the suspension meted on him after being caught with a loaded hand wraps just prior to meeting "Sugar" Shane Mosley in their January 2009 title bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. De La Hoya, the 1992 U.S. Olympic hero, insisted Margarito should no longer be allowed to fight in the ring again. "Any which way one tries to tamper with anything having to do with the fists or the gloves, you know what? You should be banned for life. That's my stance and that's my position. There's no if's or buts," said De La Hoya in a strongly worded statement. Top Rank Promotions have scheduled a November 13 title fight between Pacquiao and Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight crown, although the venue has yet to be determined depending on where the controversial Mexican boxer would be granted a license. De La Hoya reminded Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and Pacquiao that Marquez is just waiting in the wings. "The case I want to make is that Marquez is right there, already licensed," he said. Marquez and Pacquiao already met twice the last six years, with the Filipino ring icon scoring a controversial split decision in their 2008 rematch. Their initial encounter in 2004 ended up in a stirring draw when the Mexican rebounded back from three stunning knockdowns in the opening round. While Marquez has repeatedly made known his desire for a third meeting with Pacquiao in the ring, the world’s top pound-for-pound champion believes a third fight with his known nemesis would no longer create a stir among boxing fans. But several issues have to be resolved first for a third Pacquiao-Marquez fight to happen. Expected to be a major argument in the negotiations is the fighting weight of both fighters. Marquez weighed 135 pounds in his last ring appearance against Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz in July, while Pacquiao is set to climb at 154 pounds in his supposed meeting with Margarito. And then there’s the rocky relation between Top Rank and Golden Boy, the two outfits that own the promotional rights on Pacquiao and Marquez, respectively. But De La Hoya believes the animosity between him and Arum can be set aside if only for the fight, the people want to see, push through. "We feel if Golden Boy and Top Rank can make big fights, it's a win-win situation for everyone – the fighters and the fans," De La Hoya said. "We're going to do what's best for the fans." – JVP, GMANews.TV