Barring any medical findings that would render either Manny Pacquiao or Juan Manuel Marquez unfit to resume fighting, the fifth chapter of their thrilling rivalry is almost a certainty.

Pacquiao has made it clear to his promoter Bob Arum that he wants a rematch because he wants an immediate redemption from his crushing sixth round knockout defeat. He also wants a fifth match with his legendary Mexican foe because it makes the most sense, financially.

Arum said the global interest generated by the sheer intensity and drama of the fourth fight makes No. 5 the “biggest boxing event, bigger than Mayweather-Pacquiao.”

September rematch
“I want everyone to enjoy the Christmas holidays. At the start of the year, we will start talking [about the rematch], possibly in September” Arum said by phone.

Talks of such a rematch infuriated Pacquiao’s emotional mother, Mommy Dionesia, who is begging her son to walk away from boxing after his crushing defeat to Marquez.

Like Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, the PacMom became hysterical watching Pacquiao drop to the canvas face first from the impact of a Marquez solid counter right flush to the jaw just before the end of Round 6.

“If it were up to me, I would rather that my son retires now,” said Mommy Dionisia in Filipino during a television interview.

A devout Catholic, Mommy D wants Pacquiao to focus on his job as a congressman and for him to return to the Catholic faith.

“That’s what he gets for changing his religion,” Mommy Dionisia said. “Since the Protestant pastors came into his life, he has not focused on his boxing.”

Marquez keeps mum
Marquez, who is co-promoted by Arum, has so far avoided speaking publicly about a Pacquiao rematch. But Arum and key members of Team Marquez said the Mexican counter-puncher indicated he too wants a rematch.

His long-time trainer, Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, told Mexican sportswriter Ernesto Castellanos that Marquez is open to fighting Pacquiao again.

Marquez’ promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions said, “In the fifth fight, Marquez will try to win for sure, but whatever happens happen. He has nothing to prove about being considered one of the greatest Mexican fighters ever.”

Intense rivalry
Veteran HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant said Pacquiao vs Marquez 5 promises to be the biggest chapter of the intense rivalry between the two future Hall of Fame fighters.

“That fight was probably one of the best fights between two elite boxers out to push each other to the max,” Merchant said. “It’s the kind of thrilling, dramatic fight the fans would love to see all over again.”

Merchant said that boxing being a business as much as sports and entertainment, a rematch could be the best option for Pacquiao and Marquez from a financial point of view.

Pacquiao said he is willing to fight anyone when he returns to the ring, but his trainer, Freddie Roach, would rather have his prized warrior get a Marquez rematch in September.

Roach, battling signs of Parkinson’s disease, which he may have gotten from prizefighting, said he would not rush Pacquiao’s return to the ring because of the way his last fight ended.

“I would have to watch him closely when he returns to the gym,” Roach said. “If I see any sign of decline, I would tell him to stop.”

Suspension and brain check-up
Both Roach and Arum agree that Pacquiao, who was suspended by the Nevada State Athleic Commission from boxing for 120 days (four months) as a precaution, would need to undergo a battery of brain exams to make sure he is okay.

Arum has offered to pay for the extensive brain test at a Las Vegas brain center in January to determine if he is fit to fight again.

With his precautionary suspension, the earliest Pacquiao can return to the gym for any contact training is in April.

The suspension order directs him to avoid any boxing contact in the first 90 days, which makes it impossible for him to do any physical activity related to boxing.
He can therefore not spar with anyone before mid-March.

Because of the suspension the plan announced soon after Pacquiao-Marquez 4 for him to return to the ring on April 20 was dropped.

Arum said that as long as Pacquiao is cleared by competent doctors, he should be able to bounce back as other great fighters have done before him.

The Hall of Fame promoter noted how British world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis recovered from two knockouts to even get better.

After being knocked out cold by Hasim Rahman with a straight right hand to the button in the fifth round of their April 22, 2001, the Briton stopped Rahman with a right hook to the jaw in the fourth seven months later. Lewis then went on to knock Mike Tyson out in Round 8 in June 2002.

Earlier in his career, Lewis was stopped in Round 2 by Oliver McCall in September 1994 at the Wembley Stadium in London. Three years later Lewis avenged his loss via a fifth-round technical knockout in February 1997.

Duran comeback
One of the biggest ring comebacks was that of legendary Panamanian Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, who is considered the best lightweight of all time.

After being knocked out cold in Round 2 of a light middleweight title fight by hard-punching
Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns on June 15 1984, then 33-year-old Duran took an 18-month break before working his way up again in the ring.

Less than three years later, Duran won one of his biggest fights ever, upsetting the bigger and younger Iran Barkley to win the WBC middleweight title by split decision. At age 38, Duran was also voted 1989 Fighter of the Year.

Can Pacquiao, who turns 34 today, emulate Lewis and Duran in reviving their ring careers after devastating losses?

Well, it all depends if Pacquiao, the only boxer to win eight world titles in as many weight classes, could get the green light to continue boxing from the brain specialists.

Tough training
Should Pacquiao get the doctors’ clearance to compete again, the first-term congressman must decide if he could still commit enough time and his undivided attention rigorous training that usually take at least eight weeks.

Second, the “Pambansang Kamao” must return to the punishing strength and conditioning routines that have brought him tremendous success as he went up in weight and winning world titles in the last several years.

As the eminent boxing analyst Larry Merchant said, serious training is not quite enough to compete at the elite level.

“Prizefighting is a demanding, sometimes cruel sport. To stay at the top a boxer has to always train hard to be in tip-top shape,” said Merchant, who is signing off as the revered and fearless fight analyst for HBO for nearly 35 years.

ace of boxing
Until his crushing defeat, Pacquiao was considered the global face of boxing — a great explosive puncher-boxer who fights the best, often bigger, opponents.

Probably the best athlete the Philippines ever had, Pacquiao has had tremendous crossover success, which earned him tremendous additional income as a product endorser.

Ranked No. 1 best boxer in the world pound-for-pound for at least two years.

A man who loves to bask in the limelight, Pacquiao has his own TV show, has starred in a number of movies and has recorded a few songs.

Pacquiao is a congressman. He is not the first ever active prizefighter to be elected congressman of his country. Ukraine’s parliament includes reigning boxing heavyweight superchampion Vitaly Klitschko, who leads one of opposition parties.

Perhaps Pacquiao has become a victim of his own success. With so many projects and activities competing for his time and attention, Pacquiao gradually lost focus on the sport that brought him tremendous success.

Pacquiao told fans upon arrival in Manila Wednesday that he would continue to fight and vowed, “we will rise again.”

Win or lose, Pacquiao’s legion of fans showed their support with signs that read “you’re still our greatest champion and hero.”