Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, spared little time spinning a potential negative into a positive after Pacquiao's surprisingly close decision over Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday.
Arum, CEO of Top Rank, insisted in postfight interviews that the rival boxers should schedule a fourth meeting in the near future.
"There are a lot of angry Mexicans out there," said Arum, referring to the opinion of some observers that the Mexican-born Marquez should have won the fight. "I want a fourth fight. I want to be safe when I go to Mexico."
"My advice to all the parties involved is for an immediate rematch," Arum later added. "It was a great fight."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, didn't sound as eager for the Filipino boxer to get in the ring again with Marquez. In 36 rounds spanning three fights, Pacquiao and Marquez are now separated by seven points on the official scorecards, with Pacquiao winning two of the three matchups.
"It's a fight I kind of don't want to do again, but we have to," Roach admitted. That could have an impact on a possible showdown with Floyd Mayweather, who some believe may finally agree to fight Pacquiao in May.
Arum wasn't done rabble-rousing.
Before the fight, WBC chairman Jose Sulaiman condemned the fight, in which the WBO welterweight title was on the line. Sulaiman called the fight a mismatch, judging the 38-year-old Marquez to be too old and too light, as Marquez had moved up from lightweight for the fight.
If the Mexican-born Sulaiman took any joy in watching Marquez post a close loss, his grin was wiped off his face by some harsh words from Arum.
"Tell the president of the WBC what [a jerk] he is," Arum said. "Tell him that I called him that. Juan Manuel Marquez is a great fighter. He doesn't know what he is talking about."
Who wouldn't want to get together for a fourth matchup with these chums?
Photo of the day
It's easy to look happy when you know there's at least two more big paydays on the horizon.
Quote of the day
"They were fast on film. They're fast on the field. It was no surprise. They're a very good defense. They did a lot of good things. They forced me to make some bad decisions. Probably the best defense we faced all year."
— Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck on Oregon's defense after the Cardinal's 53-30 loss on Saturday
Tweet of the day
Yeah, he's kind of good.
Video of the day
If even Satan doesn't approve, Jerry Sandusky's lawyers are going to have a tough time convincing a judge and jury.
