Pacquiao vs Marquez IV: Roach Confirms Fight Is on the Table

According to a report at ESPN Deportes, Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has confirmed that Juan Manuel Marquez is the target for Pacquiao's December 8 fight, which was reported earlier, will be announced at a press conference on Tuesday, September 18.

There is continued talk -- though light, and perhaps just to keep the intrigue beating, and perhaps just for shits and giggles -- that Timothy Bradley is "in the running" to face Pacquiao, but there have been zero stories about negotiations between those camps, and several about Pacquiao-Marquez discussions.

Roach says that this time, Pacquiao will train entirely in Los Angeles, and will aim for a knockout of Marquez to finish the rivalry once and for all.

We also heard from a reader this evening that on TV Azteca in Mexico, it has basically been confirmed that Marquez will be facing Pacquiao on December 8, for whatever that's worth.

Roach also says that Miguel Cotto turned down $7.5 million to face Pacquiao, but does not acknowledge that Cotto really turned down fighting below 154 pounds, which he's repeatedly stated -- including twice to Team Pacquiao this year -- he has no intention of doing again. Roach is a master spinologist. Cotto will face Austin Trout on December 1.

You can expect Pacquiao vs Marquez IV at this point. It will be official soon enough, it seems, and I'd even expect clear news at some point this week that this will be the fight, before next Tuesday's presser to make it all proper. And for those four of 200 people who might still wonder this: No, the fight will not be anywhere except Las Vegas.