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Manny Pacquiao confirms fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez

Pacquiao confirms fourth Marquez fight
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A fourth fight between long-term rivals Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez is confirmed for December.

Manny Pacquiao has confirmed that his next fight will be against Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8.

It will be the fourth fight between the pair in an eight-year rivalry.

After a hard-fought draw back in 2004, they squared off again in 2008, with the Filipino taking a close split decision.

Last November they met again, with Marquez again aggrieved in a controversial decision for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao himself lost a tough decision against Timothy Bradley in his last bout, in June.

His promoter Bob Arum confirmed that they chose Marquez due to the money factor.

"The economics of the Marquez fight were so much more that the Bradley one," Arum told ESPN.

"When Pacquiao fought Marquez we sold close to 1.3m pay-per-view, against Bradley it was close to 900,000. That's a big difference.

"Plus the gate goes from around $8m (£5m) to $12m (£7m)."

Both Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach would have preferred to avenge his June defeat, but once their number one choice Miguel Cotto pulled out, the Marquez fight was always likely.

Roach said: "Manny knew I would prefer Bradley. I think money was a huge factor.

"Bradley doesn't bring the people Marquez does, but I would rather have revenge for that bad decision in June."

The fight will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

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