The immediate prospect of a long awaited mega-fight between American Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao seemed to recede after the Filipino's controversial majority decision over Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Pacquiao had been widely expected to win his third fight against the Mexican in convincing style but the nail-biting outcome, ruled by one of the three judges as a draw, persuaded his trainer to consider a fourth meeting between the fighters.
Freddie Roach, a shrewd tactician who has been uncannily accurate with his fight predictions, had forecast a Pacquiao victory well inside the distance and he was amazed to be so far off the mark.
Pacquiao, who clinched his 15th successive win by beating Marquez, was happy to take on the Mexican for a fourth time while he also laid down the gauntlet to Mayweather.
