MANILA, Philippines – The prospect of dealing with a new challenge is what led WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley to pass up on a rematch with Manny Pacquiao in favor of a showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez.
In a report posted in boxingscene.com, Bradley, who rejected a cool $6 million payday to face Pacquiao in a rematch, said facing Marquez at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Oct. 12 is a better move career-wise.
“I have always been more interested in looking for new challenges than doing what has been expected. Though I was offered a rematch with Manny Pacquiao in Macau, the opportunity to fight another legend of my era – Juan Manuel Marquez – had far more appeal to me for several reasons,†Bradley said.
So what makes a Marquez fight more appealing for Bradley?
“Marquez is a boxing legend and a Mexican icon. He is coming off a career-best victory over professional nemesis Manny Pacquiao. I am coming off my two career-best victories – over Pacquiao and Ruslan Provodnikov,†explained Bradley, who escaped with a controversial split decision win over Pacquiao in June last year.
“It just made sense to me to fight Marquez next. Bradley vs Marquez – a battle between the only two fighters to have beaten Manny Pacquiao in the past seven years. It got me excited as a fighter and as a fan. It was a no-brainer for me,†he added.
The fighter nicknamed “The Desert Storm†further justified his selection of Marquez over Pacquiao, saying his is gunning for history against a Mexican legend.
“Challenges are what I am all about. They invigorate me. And the chance to fight Marquez in front of his legion of loyal Hispanic fans? Heck, I'm riding that wave. I live for a fight like this. He wants to make history by being the first Mexican fighter to win five world titles in five different weight divisions. Chavez, Morales and Barrera never did that. I know he wants to make history. But I want to make my own history and beating Marquez and denying him of his ultimate goal, in the boxing capital of the world, will do just that,†said Bradley.
Pacquiao himself pursued a fifth meeting with Marquez – who knocked him out last December – but the Mexican is no longer interested, saying there’s no more unfinished business between them. The Filipino icon now aims to bounce back against Brandon Rios in November.
Bradley, for his part, said he would welcome a second bout with Pacquiao if the latter gets past Rios.
“If Manny Pacquiao can beat Brandon Rios in November, then maybe we can have our rematch after that fight,†he said.
The American likewise must deal with Marquez first.
“But timing is everything and the time for Bradley vs Marquez is now. I choose the battles I want to fight and I want to fight Marquez. This is my time,†Bradley added.