Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez kept his World Boxing Association lightweight throne on Saturday with a unanimous 12-round decision over Juan Diaz, then called out Filipino star Manny Pacquiao.


Marquez took a rematch of a slugfest from last year by judges’ scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112, improving the 36-year-old fighter’s record to 51-5 with one draw. Diaz fell to 35-4.


Marquez twice lost to Pacquiao and while the Asian superstar has been unable to land a blockbuster fight with unbeaten US veteran Floyd Mayweather, Marquez is hoping he might have a chance at a third swing in the ring with ”Pac-Man”.


”The trilogy is what I want. It’s what the people want,” Marquez said. ”I will be ready for another fight in December, hopefully Pacquiao.”


While Pacquiao looks to fight Mexican Antonio Margarito in November, Marquez said his hunger to face the Filipino legend is greater than his desire to rule as World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight king.


”That’s true. That fight is more important for me,” Marquez said.


Marquez dispatched Diaz in the ninth round in February of last year and this time was faced with a more tactical boxer-styled foe. The result, however, was the same.


”That first fight was a war. This was a bit more tactical,” Marquez said. ”He wanted to box a bit more but we came out ahead. He’s a great fighter. He knows some technique. But tonight technique was in our favor.”


The only fight for Marquez since beating Diaz some 17 months ago came last September when he stepped up to welterweight and lost to undefeated US star Floyd Mayweather by unanimous decision.

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