Manny gets no less than $25 million vs Marquez

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao chose Juan Manuel Marquez over Timothy Bradley for the very simple reason that he won’t settle for less for his next fight.

Against Marquez, Pacquiao stands to get no less than $25 million, and several millions more on the pay-per-view sales and other revenues.

Pacquiao can’t make as much facing Bradley despite the fact that a rematch would have given him the chance to regain his WBO welterweight crown.

Numbers don’t lie, and based on the pay-per-view sales of the 2011 Pacquiao-Marquez showdown, another hit is almost guaranteed to come on Dec. 8.

Their third fight, as close and as controversial as their first two, sold close to 1.4 million pay-per-view hits as compared to the 900,000 for the Bradley fight last June. Gate sales were at $12 million for Marquez, and $8 million for Bradley.

“Money wise Marquez is the best fight,” Pacquiao’s legal counsel, Franklin Gacal, told The STAR yesterday.

But certainly it’s not easy money because Marquez is a tough cookie even at his age. Pacquiao always brings out the best in the 39-year-old counterpuncher from Mexico.

“It’s a risky fight and Manny knows it. But he chose to fight Marquez than Bradley. I told him he has to knock Marquez out this time if he wants to finally settle the score,” said Gacal.

“God will find a way,” was Pacquiao’s reply. 

Pacquiao was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles last night. Bob Arum of Top Rank said a press conference announcing the fight will take place on Tuesday at Beverly Hills.

Marquez could earn as much as $10 million for this fight, and once again he will do anything or drink anything to make sure he gets that victory over Pacquiao.

It took so long for Pacquiao to make the decision because according to his wife he was looking for the “best deal” possible since this could be his last fight.

Yes, Marquez is a risky fight, but it’s better than Bradley or Pacquiao not fighting at all.

Last November, Pacquiao and Marquez went at it for 12 hard rounds with no knockdowns. It was so close a lot of people felt that the Mexican deserved the victory.

Pacquiao’s chief adviser, Mike Koncz, said the Filipino superstar wanted to redeem himself from the unimpressive victory over Marquez the last time out.

The victory was so unpopular that Mexican fight fans booed Pacquiao and showered him with popcorn as he neared the tunnel leading to the dressing room.

“We were hurt a little bit at the last Marquez fight, when we heard the booing and stuff. So we know we lost some of our Mexican fans. The other reason we chose Marquez is we want to win back some of the Mexican fans that we lost in the last Marquez fight,” Koncz told www.boxingscene.com.

Gacal said he’d rather see a stoppage in this fourth fight because there’s no guarantee if the fight lasts the distance.

“We can’t be sure if it lasts the whole 12 rounds, and what the decision will be,” added the General Santos City lawyer, recalling the Bradley match last June.

While Pacquiao dominated the fight statistics wise, two of the three judges gave it to Bradley, who fumed the other day after news broke out that Pacquiao had ditched him.

“I can’t believe these guys,” The Desert Sun quoted Bradley as saying.

“He didn’t want any part of me. Marquez is an easier fight. He knows that a fight with me and two good legs is going to be hell. I can’t believe it. Any champion who lost his belt, you would want to redeem yourself,” added Bradley.

A rematch with Pacquiao would have easily earned Bradley no less than $7 million.Now he has to settle for much, much less in his next fight.