Pacquiao-Marquez III no go for Top Rank's Arum

Top Rank Promotions chairman Bob Arum put his foot down on calls made to have a third installment of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rivalry. Arum pointed out the fight is no longer viable at this point, considering the weight differences between the two boxing superstars. For it to happen, Arum suggested Marquez climb at welterweight first and then take on legitimate fighters at 147 such as Andre Berto or Joshua Clottey. If and when the 37-year old Mexican beat the hell out of these boxers, then perhaps he’ll get his chance at facing Pacquiao again for the last time. “Let him fight a legitimate welterweight. Once he fights a legitimate welterweight and succeeds, then, don’t you think we would love to put him in against Manny Pacquiao," said the veteran 78-year old boxing promoter. Arum was reacting to a suggestion floated the other day by rival promoter Oscar De La Hoya that Marquez be given another shot at Pacquiao after their first two fights both ended up in controversies. The Golden Boy made the insinuation shortly after the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) denied Antonio Margarito’s application for a new license, putting in danger a scheduled November 13 title fight with Pacquiao which Arum is trying to arrange. Both Pacquiao and Margarito are under the stable of Top Rank, while Golden Boy Promotion holds the rights on Marquez. Arum noted how Marquez struggled in his first and only fight at welterweight when unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. badly outclassed him to score a lopsided 12-round decision. Marquez has since returned at lightweight and only recently, defeated Juan “Baby Bull" Diaz for the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 135-pound belts. Pacquiao on the other hand, has had difficulty of remaining at lightweight, having last fought at the weight division in June 2008 when he knocked down David Diaz inside nine rounds to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) version of the title. The fighting congressman from the province of Sarangani, considered as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, and Marquez engaged in two dramatic bouts in the past whose outcome has left a lot to be desired about among boxing fans. In 2004, the two fought to a controversial draw after Marquez came back from three stunning knockdowns in the opening round. Four years later, they face each other in a highly-anticipated rematch, which Pacquiao won by split decision. – JVP, GMANews.TV