“We’d end up trying to kill each other”: Pacquiao rivalry to be renewed?
Having already faced Manny Pacquiao four times between 2004 and 2012, Mexican Juan Manuel Márquez isn’t shutting the door on another bout.
Juan Manuel Márquez’s legendary rivalry with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao remains one of boxing’s most unforgettable sagas. Their battles were nothing short of brutal - no holding back, no dancing around. Just pure, unfiltered warfare. And of course, who could forget the thunderous knockout Márquez delivered that sent Pacquiao crashing to the canvas?
Though both fighters have officially hung up the gloves, Pacquiao recently made a brief return to the ring, squaring off against Mario Barrios in a bout that ended in a draw. Add to that the buzz that surrounded Mike Tyson’s clash with Jake Paul, and it’s no surprise that fans are wondering: could Márquez and Pacquiao meet again in an exhibition?
In a recent interview with the Mexican boxing outlet Izquierdazo, Márquez revealed that he’s already been approached about the idea. While he remains committed to retirement, he didn’t entirely shut the door on the possibility.
“Let’s see what happens”
“They’ve asked me about doing an exhibition,” Márquez said. “But do you really think it would be just an exhibition with him [Pacquiao]? That’s never going to happen. And what - two-minute rounds? We’d end up trying to kill each other. Better to just leave it alone…”
Despite that caution, Márquez didn’t rule it out completely. “I’d never say no outright,” he admitted. “But we’ll see. I said I retired and I’ve stuck to that. Still, let’s see what happens."
When did Márquez and Pacquiao last meet?
Márquez last fought in 2014, defeating Mike Alvarado by unanimous decision. Two years earlier, the Mexican faced Pacquiao in the pair’s fourth and most recent bout, avenging his 2008 and 2011 defeats to the Filipino with a stunning sixth-round knockout triumph in Las Vegas. Márquez and Pacquiao also drew in 2004.
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