Juan Manuel Marquez sees a close fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Cinco de Mayo weekend on May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Marquez said in an interview that Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, is a dangerous opponent for Mayweather, pointing out that the reigning pound-for-pound king has not faced an opponent like his Filipino rival before.

Mayweather, who holds a 47-0 record with 28 knockouts, was recently pushed to the limit by Marcos Maidana in their first fight in May last year with his aggressiveness and all-out approach.

Marquez pointed out, though, that Pacquiao is a better fighter than Maidana, saying that the Filipino boxing icon has a vaunted punching power aside from his speed and aggressiveness.

"It's a very dangerous fight for Mayweather because he has not faced any opponent with the speed or aggression of Pacquiao, and in this case also with power," Marquez said in an interview with El Golpe a Golpe via BoxingScene. "Mayweather has not faced an opponent with these characteristics."

Marquez also added that the eighth-division champion is motivated, but he cannot help but be concerned, though, that Pacquiao might continue to play safe in the upcoming fight after experiencing a sixth-round knockout in their fourth showdown in December 2013.

"We know that Manny Pacquiao is not at his best, but he is coming in with a lot of motivation, with a lot of hunger, but the level is not the same," Marquez said. "After that big knockout in 2012, a fighter's mind can change. A big punch to the jaw and he can relive those moments of 2012. Hopefully this does not happen."

Marquez is familiar with Pacquiao and Mayweather since he has faced both fighters earlier in his career.

Marquez fought Mayweather in September 2009, where the Grand Rapids, Michigan, native dominated him and ran away with a unanimous decision victory.

He had four exciting fights against Pacquiao. The first one ended in a draw, while Pacquiao won via controversial decisions in the next two fights before Marquez scored a scintillating knockout win in their fourth showdown.

While Marquez is expecting an interesting fight between the two boxing superstars, the four-division champion said the fight could have been more exciting and bigger had Pacquiao and Mayweather faced each other several years ago when they were still at their prime.

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