• Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez

Marquez 'had Manny's number' - Roach

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez may have to do it all again for a fourth time © Getty Images

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Manny Pacquiao's long-awaited showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr may be in doubt once more after the Filipino's trainer Freddie Roach admitted a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez may be unavoidable.

In the third meeting between the pair, Pacquiao retained his WBO welterweight title in controversial circumstances when earning a majority decision against his long-time Mexican rival on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

It was another less-than-convincing performance from Pacquiao against the 38-year-old - their two previous encounters ending in a draw (2004) and a hugely contentious victory for Pacquiao (2008) - and many fans inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena could be heard booing the pound-for-pound king as he gave his post-fight interview in the ring.

Pacquiao is certain he did enough to be victorious but his promoter, Bob Arum, says the contest was arguably too close to call and a fourth instalment of their rivalry may be needed to settle any doubt.

"I'm bound and determined to have these two fight once and for all in a decisive fight," Arum said. "I had Manny winning this fight, some people - particularly Mexicans - had Marquez ahead. I'll speak to Manny and Juan Manuel, and maybe we'll do it again in May. It was great for boxing and if we do it again it's going to set all monetary records for pay-per-view."

Mayweather's advisor Leonard Ellerbe recently stated that May 5 had been preliminarily pencilled in as the date the MGM Grand would stage the mega-fight between his charge and Pacquiao, but Roach has not ruled out the possibility of his man giving Marquez a rematch.

"I predicted Manny would win in six rounds and I got it completely wrong," he said. "In the end it could have gone the other way. The fight was there for Marquez. If Manny hadn't won the last it could have been a draw or even worse for us.

"He had Manny's number. We need to get to work on how to deal with the counterpunchers a little better. I need to do my job a little better. Marquez is a fight I don't want us to take again. But I think we have to."

Marquez, meanwhile, cut a disconsolate figure after the fight and admitted he is now considering his future in the sport. Adamant he won the fight, the veteran hit out at the ringside judges and said he struggled to comprehend how the verdict went in Pacquiao's favour.

"I think I won this fight again," he said. "What do I need to do before the judges give me the fight? What I need to do is sit down with my family and my camp and make a decision about continuing in this sport or just simply retire from the sport. It will be difficult.

"For me, the best judge is the audience and they responded sensationally tonight. I would like to thank all the people that came to the arena. This time we not only beat him in the ring but also in the audience. The people were rooting for me and we are very happy for that.

"You need to win fights like this with intelligence and I was very intelligent tonight. Styles make fights and I think my style is complicated for his style."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.