By Ryan Burton

Earlier today, BoxingScene.com ran an article by Ernesto Castellanos ( which can be found by CLICKING HERE ) in which three division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez said that he would prefer to face WBO junior welterweight king Tim Bradley instead of fellow Mexican legend Erik Morales - in the event that he is unable to secure a fourth fight against Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez said - "My plans are not to retire, and I am focused on the fourth fight against Manny Pacquiao. So far I do not know if it will happen in May or all the way in November. If [the fight] is not made ​​soon, then I look for another great opportunity, like Timothy Bradley, the WBO's junior welterweight champion. [Morales] is a great fighter, very good, but there are other opponents who are bigger, like Bradley. I want to face the best, and that's what I remember Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns doing."



BoxingScene.com reached out to Bradley to get his thoughts on a potential showdown with Marquez. Bradley, along with Marquez and Miguel Cotto, is also in the running to be Pacquiao's next opponent. Pacquiao would obviously be the most lucrative option for Bradley but if a fight against the Filipino congressman can't be made - then Bradley would love to face Marquez.



"I want to fight Pacquiao but facing Marquez is another fight that I want. That would be a great fight," stated Bradley to BoxingScene.com.

The Palm Springs, California based fighter thinks that a win over Marquez is just the type of win he needs in order to prove that he is worthy of a showdown against the pound for pound king. Bradley already holds wins over Lamont Peterson and Devon Alexander when they were both undefeated. If Bradley adds Marquez's name to his resume, it will be difficult for the 8 division world champion to bypass him for an end of year showdown - assuming that the Filipino doesn't face Floyd Mayweather.



"That is they fight I need to get PacMan," Bradley told BoxingScene. "If I beat Marquez it will show my worth and PacMan will not deny me. And I will beat Marquez."



Bradley ended our conversation with a message for all of the fans. "I want to say Happy Holidays to all of the fans and that I hope to be back in the ring in a big fight soon."



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