Angel Heredia affirms that Juan Manuel Marquez has no interest in a fifth Pacquiao fight but says Provodnikov is possible

Angel Heredia speakingin Big Bear, Calif. (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)

By Chris Robinson

During my recent swing through Big Bear, Calif., I caught up with strength and conditioning coach Angel Heredia, as he is presently assisting his client, former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, ahead of his Jan. 18 date on HBO against Lucian Bute.

Heredia made a splash in the sport in late 2011 when it was revealed that he was assisting Mexico City’s Juan Manuel Marquez ahead of his third meeting with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Marquez fought an excellent battle against Pacquiao in their trilogy match, losing a close majority-decision that many felt he won, and he returned to stop his Filipino foil in chilling fashion in their fourth encounter a year later.

Marquez is presently eyeing his future following a bitter split-decision loss to Tim Bradley on Oct. 12.

Asked for any insight into his charge’s future, Heredia is adamant that another melee with Bradley is on Marquez’s agenda.

“I spoke to him a couple days ago,” Heredia stated. “He said that he doesn’t know yet who he’s going to fight. He’s waiting on Bob Arum; I think he wants a rematch with Bradley. Whether Bradley was going to give it to him, I don’t know. I’m still waiting too.”

Arum, Marquez’s co-promoter, would love to match Marquez up with Pacquiao for a fifth time but Heredia affirmed that such a scenario isn’t exactly tempting to Juan.

“He told me he’s comfortable with the KO and he’s going to go home and remember it for the rest of his life,” Heredia explained. “I asked him if it’s a possibility that a fifth fight might go and he said ‘To be honest with you Angel, I think that chapter is closed now.’”

Heredia did add that if Marquez can get the rematch with Bradley, that he will eye a couple of tune-up fights in Mexico before retiring officially.

One name that Heredia isn’t completely ruling out is WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov, who Marquez appears to be at least mildly-interested in at this point.

“He mentioned that to me as another option too,” said Heredia. “But it depends where they fight. He doesn’t want to fight in Vegas anymore. It could be Mexico, it could be San Antonio, Texas, it could be Florida. Who knows.”

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