WASHINGTON, D.C.: Top Mexican trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain assured that his prized fighter Juan Manuel Marquez will fight again next year and that he does not rule out a fifth fight with Filipino rival Manny Pacquiao.

Beristain, who is credited for guiding 25 world champions in an illustrious career spanning almost 50 years, said another possible opponent that they are considering for the 39-year-old Marquez is unbeaten Mexican American junior welterweight star Brandon Rios.

Pacquiao, Marquez and Rios are all promoted by Bob Arum’s Las Vegas-based promotional company, Top Rank Promotions.

Beristain said that he expects his prized fighter to resume training after a month off to rest from the grueling Pacquiao fight.

“[I told him to take a month off], but I know him. He will return soon, although it would be best to take more than a month off to rest,” the trainer said.

Beristain brushed off comments suggesting as a “lucky punch” big right hand that knocked Pacquiao cold at the end of Round 6 of their fourth fight on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

“Some have said that Marquez’s victory was the result of a lucky punch. Lucky?” Beristain told sportswriter Ernesto Castellanos of Notifight.com. “It was a punch that we have practiced many times in the gym and this time it worked.”

The 73-year-old trainer said that the comments of some people that tend to undermine Marquez’ biggest win will not detract from the great achievements of the legendary Mexican boxer.

“We shut a lot of mouths with this victory,” said Beristain as he noted that Marquez also knocked out one of his sparring mates using an identical punch during training for the latest Pacquiao-Marquez fight.

He said that Marquez, one of the best counterpunchers in the game, trained long and very hard, testing various combinations and different punches.

The one move they worked on repeatedly in the gym, Beristain said, was for Marquez waiting for his opponent’s attack and then making a move to the left side and releasing the full power of the right hook.

The celebrated Mexican trainer said that it was a hard fight because Marquez and Pacquiao knew each other so well from three previous close—a draw in the first and a split decision in the second and majority decision in the third, in favor of Pacquiao.

“But Marquez’ moment came and the knockout came,” Nacho said.

Beristain said that he was worried that Pacquiao might have been badly hurt by the solid counter right to the jaw that sent the Filipino ring icon crashing like a heap to the mat with barely a second left in the sixth round.

“He [Pacquiao] was not moving. His head hit the canvas, there was a thump and he was unconscious. He fell face first to the canvas. It’s a good thing that he recovered. Pacquiao is very strong,” Beristain said.