Times have changed recently for Manny Pacquiao. Where he once had opponents lining up at his door for the opportunity to make history in beating him, and set themselves up financially years to come with a payday a fight with Pacquiao would bring, things are no longer quite so easy.
Manny Pacquiao reportedly had offers out to Juan Manuel Marquez for $13 million and Tim Bradley for $6 million, but both men declined to take him up on it. Instead of getting to fight the two men he wants to fight most, he may be forced to take on someone he sees as less desirable. The most likely scenario would involve either Mike Alvarado or Brandon Rios.
According to a source in the Pacquiao camp, he really had his eyes set on either Marquez or Bradley, both men he has lost to. Instead they are looking at other options.
Last week both Bradley and Marquez were made offers to fight Pacquiao, but instead they made the decision to take on each other later this year. That decision is a little strange considering neither will make close to the amount of money they caould have made if they fought Pacquiao again. However, at least in the case of Marquez, outside of the money, there seems to be little to gain in facing Manny for a fifth time.
Tim Bradley, however, was gifted a decision against Pacquiao, in a fight almost nobody besides the judges at ringside thought he won. That victory gave Bradley the WBO welterweight title he will defend against Marquez. He reportedly turned down the rematch because he thought even at $6 million, he was being given too little.
In their first fight, Bradley earned $5 million, and he was led to believe in a rematch that he would earn as much as $10 million. So when the lower offer came, he opted to face Marquez instead.
As of right now, Tim Bradley is scheduled to fight Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. However, depending on what Floyd Mayweather does, the date could be changed. Pacquiao, meanwhile continues his search for a fight that will almost assuredly take place in Macau, perhaps in November.
