Manny Pacquiao's Options: A Rematch With Cotto Or a Trilogy With Marquez

Recent pronouncements from Golden Boy Promotions owner Oscar de la Hoya point to a possible trilogy between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Mexican idol Juan Manuel Marquez, if the highly hyped Pacquiao-Mayweather match falls through.

The trilogy can be made if Marquez beats Juan Diaz convincingly when they collide in a rematch on July 31 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Diaz will be looking for payback against Marquez, who stopped him in the ninth round when they fought last year for the WBO and WBA lightweight titles.

Marquez and Diaz both lost in their previous fights. Marquez lost to Mayweather, Jr last September via a unanimous decision while Diaz was beaten by Paulie Malignaggi last December.

"He's always wanted Pacquiao. He's always been dreaming about Pacquiao" De La Hoya said.

In 2004, Pacquiao and Marquez settled for a draw. Nearly four years later they had a rematch which was won by Pacquiao via a 12-round split decision.

Many believed the fight was won by Marquez notwithstanding the fact that Pacquiao knocked down Marquez in the third round of the second match.

After the controversial match of 2008, Marquez sought Pacquiao relentlessly and even made a trip to Manila to beg Pacquiao for an immediate rematch.

A rematch with Miguel Cotto is another option for Pacquiao. Cotto is fresh from his victory over Yuri Foreman and is now the newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight champion.

A fight with Cotto will require Pacquiao to move up in weight at 154 pounds for an opportunity to capture his 8th division championship belt.

A Pacquiao-Cotto rematch is likewise dependent on the outcome of the proposed Pacquiao-Mayweather match which is awaiting Mayweather's decision.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said he has submitted the fight proposal to Mayweather, Jr for his final decision.

The undefeated American boxer has until mid-July to decide and agree or Arum will start negotiating with either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito for a possible November fight with Pacquiao.