MANILA, Philippines - Juan Manuel Marquez said he would rather retire than face an opponent other than Manny Pacquiao.
Nearly seven weeks after he fought Pacquiao a third time, Marquez feels that Pacquiao is the itch that won’t go away.
“If it’s not him (Pacquiao), it’s nobody else. I’ll retire,” Marquez, who came close to beating Pacquiao three times, told the Mexican television.
And this early, Marquez is setting the conditions in case a fourth fight takes place. He wants a set of neutral judges, and a venue outside of Vegas.
Marquez went into his third fight with Pacquiao thinking that he won the first two, which ended in a draw in 2004, and a close shave for Pacquiao in 2008.
And nothing has changed after their November showdown in Las Vegas where Marquez once again fell perhaps just a few good punches short of a win.
Many believed that Marquez threw the better punches, even if Pacquiao landed more, and deserved the win on that cold night in Vegas.
But the judges saw it the other way, one of them scoring the bout a draw, and the two others giving it to Paccquiao, the sport’s biggest draw.
“Things like this make you want to retire from the sport. I love boxing, but this is disgusting,” Marquez was also quoted as saying.
Marquez is one of four boxers lining up before Pacquiao for the Filipino icon’s first fight in 2012, and it may take place in May or June.
The others are Miguel Cotto, who’s open to a rematch with Pacquiao, or new names Tim Bradley and Lamont Peterson.
Pacquiao had wanted his hands on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May, but the American, who hits the headlines whether he’s in or out of the ring, is going to jail.
Mayweather will serve a 90-day sentence starting on Jan. 6, after he pleaded guilty of a 2010 domestic violence case, and may find no time to fight in May.
Now Pacquiao is shopping for a new opponent, and it could be Marquez, Cotto, Bradley or Peterson.
Moments after Pacquiao was awarded the victory, the chief promoter, Bob Arum, said he’s bound to stage a fourth fight.
“I am bound to put a definitive end to this,” said Arum of the rivalry that just couldn’t be settled after 36 rounds spread over seven years.
Marquez isn’t buying Arum’s statement, because he feels that he had beaten Pacquiao once more.
“Even Bob Arum realized that when I got up at the press conference, he told me, ‘It’s business’... I didn’t slap him, because he is already old.
“I’m a respectful person, but I got so pissed when he said, ‘It’s business,’” Marquez told the Mexican press.
The day after the fight, Marquez shoved away the papers, which had something to do with his fight purse, he was being asked to sign.
“You can have the money. Just give me the win,” he said.