Marquez-Pacquiao will have rematch in March
Written by: Brainiac
Juan Manuel Marquez is set to defend his WBC super featherweight title against No. 1 contender Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao will remain at junior lightweight and challenge champion Marquez for the 130-pound world title March 15 at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay, promoters Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank announced Thursday.
The bout, which will be televised by HBO PPV, is a much-anticipated rematch of their dramatic May 8, 2004, brawl. Pacquiao (45-3-2, 34 KOs) knocked Marquez (48-3-1, 35 KOs) down three times in the first round of the featherweight championship fight, but Marquez battled back and the slugfest was ruled a split draw.
Pacquiao most recently bested Marco Antonio Barrera in October and was reportedly weighing the Marquez rematch or moving up to challenge lightweight champ David Diaz.
Diaz will defend his 135-pound belt on the undercard, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com.
Arum said that if Diaz and Pacquiao both win, he would match them in July. A win by Pacquiao in July could lead to a welterweight fight against Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya in De La Hoya's career finale, Arum said.
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