Juan Manuel Marquez is scheduled to fight Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) in a 144 lb catchweight fight on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao vs Marquez III will be contested for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title.
Márquez will earn $5 Million and there will be a rematch clause that will pay Márquez $10 million for Pacquiao vs Márquez IV should he beat Pacquiao.
The Mexican first met Pacquiao in 2004 in a fight that ended in a controversial draw. They fought again 4 years later, when Pacquiao eked out a split decision to take away Marquez’s WBC super featherweight title.
Marquez, the reigning WBO and World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion, is seen by many fight experts as the next best opponent for Pacquiao in the absence of pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Manny Pacquiao has turned up the heat on Juan Manuel Marquez by insisting his opponent’s “nice-guy” persona is merely an act designed to save him from extra punishment.
The promotional tour for Saturday’s showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the third part of a trilogy between the two men, has been notable for its lack of hostility, with both boxers maintaining a dignified level of respect when discussing each other.
However, Pacquiao now believes there is an ulterior motive behind Marquez’s actions and comments and insisted the tenacious Mexican is trying to catch him off guard.