The four-division champion, who is currently ranked as the WBN Pound for pound number two fighter in the world after his fifth round stoppage win over Pacquiao, is set to challenge for Timothy Bradley’s WBO welterweight belt.
The 39 year-old, speaking on ESPN Deportes Radio, explained that he was offered other opponents after deciding to continue his career, but made no promises on a future fifth fight with Pacquiao in future.
“I had a meeting, I spoke with my family. The decision was made because I still feel good. I feel capable and I can probably do two or three more fights,” Marquez clarified in the interview
“They discussed two opponents for September 14 (in) Mike Alvarado and Timothy Bradley. I like challenges (and) Bradley would be a difficult fight for me. Apart from being world champion it would be a challenge to fight him and win another big challenge title in a fifth division, which for me is something that fills me with pride to have the opportunity to try.”
Although no word has officially come from Top Rank, the wider belief is that the fight will take place at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas and is likely to be confirmed in the next two weeks.
Bradley, 29, has only just come through a very tough test against rugged challenger Ruslan Provodnikov at the Home Depot Center last month, and despite calls for a rematch, has seemingly taken the more lucrative offer.
That could now leave Provodnikov as one of the names in the frame to face Manny Pacquiao in October, although Mike Alvarado is thought to be high on Bob Arum’s list of potential foes for the eight-weight champion.
