Marquez KOs Pacquiao: Pac-Man Says He Is Looking to Return to the Ring April 20
The biggest topics after Juan Manuel Marquez's spectacular sixth round knockout of Manny Pacquiao were about if Pacquiao was finished in the ring and if he would retire. Pacquiao was quick to squash any retirement rumors telling PhilStar.com that he is looking to return the the ring on the April 20 Top Rank card.
"That’s sports. You win some, you lose some. If you don’t want to lose, don’t fight. Let’s accept it,” Pacquiao said.
There is no opponent set at the moment, but a bout with explosive up-and-comer Brandon Rios was being discussed before the KO loss. If Rios opts to fight Pacquiao, it would mean a hefty payday for Rios and the chance to knock off a big-name fighter.
Fighting Rios would give Pacquiao a chance to vindicate his two losses in a row against one of the brightest young stars the sport has to offer.
Also in play is a possible fifth fight with Marquez, but that all depends of Marquez's willingness to fight Pacquiao again—though going off their history, there should be no resistance from either camp setting up a fifth showdown.
Pacquiao was caught by a clean, hard shot that would knock just about anyone out, so the loss, as spectacular as it was, doesn't really reflect what Pacquiao has left in the ring.
Pacquiao looked good before the KO and looked as if he could be on his way to ending the fight early himself. So even though the world thought making the fourth fight was a bit repetitive, the fifth bout would do well as the world would be wanting to see if Pacquiao could get his vengeance on Marquez.
No matter who Pacquiao chooses to fight next, he is still a huge draw and his bouts will still be big draws despite his crushing KO loss in his last outing in the ring.
