MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez isn’t done talking.
Shortly after expressing his desire to see a fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, the Mexican boxing star has put pressure on Mayweather to make the megabout happen.
Marquez says the ball is now on Mayweather’s court.
“People will blame Mayweather if the Pacquiao fight does not happen,” he told ESPN.
Marquez is known as Pacquiao’s archrival, having traded punches with the Filipino icon in four epic fights. He also challenged Mayweather in 2009 but ended up losing a one-sided decision.
But this time, the Mexican is siding with Pacquiao, who after battering Chris Algieri in Macau last month called out Mayweather to step up to the plate.
“If Floyd wants to be known as the best fighter ever, he needs to demonstrate it by taking this fight and beating the man who was considered the pound for pound best for many years in Manny Pacquiao,” he continued.
Pacquiao has long wanted to face Mayweather in what is expected to be the richest boxing match ever, but he’s never been more demanding about it until after beating Algieri last November 23 in Macau.
Mayweather, for his part, is still mum about Pacquiao’s challenge, instead resorting to taunting the Filipino through posts in his social media accounts.
Pacquiao is fed up with those, and so is Marquez.
“Mayweather needs to stop posting videos and pictures on social media mocking Pacquiao and just take the fight. After the fight he can say whatever he wants but until then, the most important thing is accepting the fight,” Marquez ended.