Freddie Roach says Juan Manuel Marquez would be a p**** not to fight Pacquiao again

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Even though Manny Paquiao’s camp shouldn’t be looking past their Nov. 23 fight with Brandon Rios, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach had some choice words for longtime Pacquiao foe Juan Manuel Marquez.

“If he (Marquez) doesn’t fight us (again), I think he’s a pussy,” Roach exclaimed.

Sure, that would be a bold claim coming from any trainers’ mouth, but in this case it does hold some merit.

With the previous three bouts before the devastating knockout in December all close, Pacquiao always gave Marquez a rematch, but with the bouts being controversial for the most part, he kind of had to.

In this case Marquez finally won a bout in convincing fashion, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t give Pacquiao one more shot, as long as there is demand for it.

Not only would the bout make sense for Marquez to give Pacquiao the same chance to vindicate a previous loss, it is also the opportunity for Marquez money-wise. Outside of a rematch with Mayweather (which is unlikely), a fifth Pacquiao bout is the biggest payday for the four-division champ available.

Before any serious talks about a fifth Pacquiao-Marquez bout can start, both fighters need to take care of business in their next bouts.

Pacquiao has the always dangerous Rios on Nov. 23 and that bout is no surefire win in any way. Pacquiao will have to prove there are no lingering effects from the Marquez knockout, and he must prove he can take a haymaker in stride.

Marquez has the other man to beat Pacquaio in his last two fights, Timothy Bradley, on Oct. 12 and that bout will pose problems for Marquez as well.

All though Bradley showed he could be more offensive in his last bout with Ruslan Provodnikov in March, don’t expect the same showing against Marquez. Bradely is a solid defensive fighter, and is at his best when he is counter-punching.

Marquez has had trouble with defensive-minded fighters in the past, so Bradely would be wise to be more conservative in the Marquez bout.