Goading Pacquiao with t-shirt, Marquez has a one-track mind

Juan Manuel Marquez arrived at last night's postfight press conference with one goal in mind - securing a third fight with the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. There's a long line of fighters who want in on the Manny Pacquiao gravy train. Marquez, who is 0-1-1 against the Filipino, says he should be at the front of the line. 

The 37-year-old Mexican legend prodded Pacquiao with a t-shirt that said, "Marquez beat Pacquiao twice!!"

"I think I'm a broken record here .. Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao," said Marquez after answering a half-dozen questions about his future.

He made a strong case by brutalizing Michael Katisidis over nine rounds to retain his WBC and WBO lightweight titles. Marquez is 8-2 since 2006 with his only losses coming against Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.  

"I know there's other good fighters out there that are deserving of fighting me," Marquez said through his translator Eric Gomez. "But I feel like, without a doubt, I made my claim. I deserve a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. He keeps coming up with excuses. Why not fight me?"

Upon his return to the Philippines, after an easy win over Antonio Margarito, "Pac-Man" said he'd gladly fight Marquez, but fans don't want to see the match and the promotion would lose money. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach sounds more open to a third fight but insists that it's fought at welterweight. 

"Let's be real here. He's fought at 147, but he's never made 147," Marquez said. "When he fought Margarito he fought at 144. We can do a catch-weight, 142 or even 140. I'm sure he can make the weight, unless he's scared."

Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs) doesn't know if the fight will happen if Team Pac-Man sticks with its welterweight demands. 

"It's just an excuse. It's just gonna be an excuse to get away from the fight," Marquez said. "It would be too much weight to accept it at 147. Let's make a catch-weight."

Marquez said a welterweight fight is silly.

"No, I think it's very bad. I think that they're just trying to come up with another excuse to not make the fight," Marquez said. "The fans deserve it. All the Mexicans deserve it. All the Filipinos deserve it."

Two of Pacquiao's last three fights have come at catch-weights. But in those cases, against Margarito and Miguel Cotto, he was moving up to fight bigger opponents. 

Golden Promotion CEO Richard Schaefer said he'll spring into action tomorrow.

"I'll be reaching out to (Top Rank president) Todd (duBoef) on Monday and see if we can get together and get the fight done. Cause if I don't make the call, I guess we'll be waiting forever," Schaefer said sarcastically. 

Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in 2004 and Pac-Man took the 2008 rematch via split decision. That night, an unhappy Schaefer asked Bob Arum for a third fight.

"I remember I was upset about the results," Schaefer said. "Arum was there and I was asking for the rematch and he said, 'it will happen, but these things need time to mature.'"

"Well, I think it’s matured and the time is now to get this fight done. I realize everyone wants to see Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. But if that fight is not going to happen now, then first things first. I think Juan Manuel Marquez should get the fight."

Marquez really has no backup plan at 135 pounds. He mentioned Erik Morales as an option several times. The next best move for major fights would come at 140 pounds where elite fighters like Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander, Marcos Maidana and Amir Khan are making a name for themselves. Maidana and Khan square off in Las Vegas on Dec. 11.

Magdalena Wróbel Connie Nielsen Melissa George Cameron Richardson Chandra West