• Welterweight

Marquez v Bradley set and says Pacquiao's no challenge

Juan Manuel Marquez floored Manny Pacquiao in December © Getty Images

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Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley have struck a deal to meet in the ring in September, with Marquez claiming there was no challenge for him to fight Manny Pacquiao for a fifth time.

At the fourth time of asking, Marquez finally got the better of Filipino legend Pacquiao with a stunning knockout last year. There were immediate calls for a rematch and the two camps talked about a deal, but Marquez expressed concerns about a fifth meeting.

And it would appear Marquez has got his wish as he will meet Bradley for the latter's WBO welterweight title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on September 14 - Mexican Independence Day.

"There were talks with two possible candidates for September 14," Marquez told ESPN Deportes. "We talked about Mike Alvarado and Timothy Bradley. But I love important challenges, the most difficult ones, and to me it would be a great challenge to fight Timothy Bradley, who is also the world champion. And to me it would be a great challenge to fight him and also to try to win a fifth title in another division, which to me is something very pleasing and would bring me a lot of pride. Right now, that's the biggest challenge - and I love the biggest possible challenges."

Expanding on the decision not to seek out a fifth fight with Pacquiao, Marquez said: "Look, what is being said about Pacquiao - that a fifth fight wouldn't make sense - well, it's just like that. It still doesn't make sense.

"To me, it wouldn't be a challenge, and I need challenges. I would like to close my career in good standing and leave a legacy behind me. I want everyone to remember me for having faced the best fighters out there, and I believe Timothy Bradley is one of them. And why not look forward to finding that fifth title in a fifth weight class, which is something no one here in Mexico has achieved?

"So to me this is an important challenge, a difficult challenge, a tough challenge. But I always have the mindset that anything can be achieved."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.