MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez said the ball is now in Manny Pacquiao’s court, as far as he’s concerned.
Marquez said he has accepted the proposed fourth-ring battle with Pacquiao and is already consulting with his boxing coach, Nacho Beristain, about his training schedule.
"It's up to Manny Pacquiao," were the Mexican counter puncher’s exact words on Boxing Scene.
Marquez’s promoter, Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions, said that everything is OK from their end.
He added that they are merely waiting for a signed contract from Pacquiao to formalize the deal.
"Verbally we can announce that on December 8, we will have this fight, but nothing more because I am being conservative. I say that 95% it is closed [a done deal],” Beltran said in another Boxing Scene report.
"The only reason I cannot guarantee the fight is because there is not a signed contract from Pacquiao before us, however, in the coming hours, we will have it," he added.
Marquez said he already has an alternate plan in place should the fourth fight fail to materialize.
He said he’ll push through with a fight either in November or December.
"We have discussed fighting in Arena Mexico [if Pacquiao doesn't agree]."
The two boxers already fought each other three times.
Their first fight in 2004 ended in a controversial draw, followed by Pacquiao’s split-decision victory four years later.
