Juan Manuel Marquez looks past Pacquiao for Mayweather

By Robert Cassidy

Juan Manuel Marquez has essentially said, "Who needs Manny Pacquiao?'

While Marquez and Pacquiao have waged a pair of compelling fights, Pac Man has moved on to bigger and better things. And while pundits try to line up Pacquiao's fight schedule, few have been calling for a third match with Marquez.

That may change now.

On Saturday night, Marquez gave away 10 years to Juan Diaz and still flattened him in his hometown of Houston. It was an exciting fight, one that it seemed the 25-year-old Diaz would win. He carried the early rounds with pressure and combination punching. But Marquez, 35 and now a three-division champ, weathered the early attack to score a dramatic ninth-round knockout. It was a thrilling finish to a fight with "Fight of the Year," potential.

Marquez has fought Pac Man twice, losing a split decision in March of 2008 and holding the Filippino to a draw in May of 2004. He called for an immediate rematch after their bout last year, but Pac Man moved up and shocked Oscar De La Hoya. Pac Man is next scheduled to fight Ricky Hatton in May and many experts are calling for him to fight Miguel Cotto in November. Both are high-profile names -- which translates into big money -- but they may not be as deservering a date with Manny.

Marquez was clearly frustrated with his inability to get a third fight with Pacquiao. And though a third JMM-Pac Man fight may come in time, immediately after he disposed of Diaz, Marquez looked in another direction. He called for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to come out of retirement and fight. read more