Sun.Star: Schaefer: Pacquiao afraid of Marquez

CEBU CITY, Philippines - After getting defeated by pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman" Pacquiao in their rematch last March 15 former World Boxing Council super featherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez has been following the Filipino’s trail. When Pacquiao moved up to the lightweight category to fight David Diaz, Marquez also decided to become a lightweight and hopefully attain a third fight with the Filipino superstar. However, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, the promoter of Marquez, believes that this is unlikely because he feels that Pacquiao is avoiding the 32-year old Mexican fighter. “I believe he knows Juan Manuel Marquez has his number and that he will beat him again. So he is going to try to find different fights, different avenues," Richard Schaefer told Setanta Sports. Schaefer firmly believes that money isn’t the reason that Pacquiao will not give Marquez a rematch but because the 29-year-old Pinoy is afraid to fight him. “Manny knows he could have made more money fighting Juan Manuel Marquez. Far more money, than he made by fighting David Diaz in his last fight. So I think money is not a good excuse. I don’t believe it. Pacquiao can say it as many times as he wants. I don’t believe it," Schaefer said. Schaefer also feels that Pacquiao will be going down to a smaller weight division after the mammoth fight of Pacquiao and six division world champion “Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya on Dec 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. “Is he going to win, is he going to lose? Irrespective of that, no doubt he will move down. He is not going to stay at 147 pounds and Juan Manuel Marquez will be waiting for him." In Marquez’ debut match as a lightweight he dethroned Joel Casamayor of the Ring Magazine lightweight crown via 11th round technical knockout. - Sun.Star Cebu