After having dinner with Juan Manuel Marquez, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum knows where the Mexican fighter stands as to the proposed fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao.
"He never mentioned a figure but he wants more than what he got the last time," Arum said from Mexico City on Thursday (Wednesday in Manila).
In knocking out Pacquiao last December, Marquez was only guaranteed $6 million and Arum said it is only logical that the 39-year-old counter-puncher pockets more than the last time.
"He won the last time so he is entitled to get more," said the Top Rank big boss, stressing that Marquez is amenable to go straight to a fifth clash with Pacquiao on Sept. 14.
Pacquiao was given $23 million in the fourth fight that he lost by sixth-round knockout and shouldn't be surprised if he ends up getting much less than that in a fifth showdown with his archrival.
"It is my job as a promoter to do what is equitable for the two fighters," said the 81-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer.
It is safe to assume that if ever Marquez decides to square off with Pacquiao this year, he will get the biggest paycheck ever by a Mexican fighter.
Julio Cesar Chavez got a little over $9 million when he met Oscar De La Hoya in 1996, making him the highest-paid Mexican puncher in history.
Arum is optimistic of getting a deal done that Marquez has agreed to come to Macau to watch the Top Rank show scheduled on April 6 at the Venetian Hotel."I am going to invite Manny as well so we can put the fight together while we're there if possible," said Arum, noting that Macau is a possible venue for Pacquiao-Marquez V.
"Marquez told me that he wants everything settled by April," said Arum.
The April 6 event will be headlined by the professional debut of Chinese Olympic legend Zou Shiming. Sharing the spotlight is the world flyweight title match between Filipino-American Brian Viloria and Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico.
Before meeting with Marquez and his promoter Fernando Beltran, Arum had also discussed the numbers with Pacquiao's adviser Mike Koncz.
The ball is certainly now in Arum's court.
article from http://ph.sports.yahoo.com/news/marquez-more-pacquiao-less-arum-112141745--spt.html
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