Manny Pacquiao has made up his mind.
The Filipino star will remain at junior lightweight and challenge champion Juan Manuel Marquez for the 130-pound world title March 15 at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay, promoters Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank announced Thursday.
AP Photo
Manny Pacquiao, left, and Juan Manuel Marquez are set to do it again March 15.
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, the star of the division, easily outpointed Marco Antonio Barrera in an Oct. 6 rematch and was considering either the Marquez rematch or moving up to challenge lightweight titlist David Diaz.
Ultimately, he decided to take the Marquez fight. 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 the ultimate showdown in September: A welterweight fight against Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya in De La Hoya's career finale, Arum said.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.Source: ESPN.com
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