MANILA – Manny Pacquiao confirmed on Saturday that he requested P3 billion from the Department of Tourism (DOT) to stage a bout here later this year.

After the DOT has said it would only approve the money if Pacquiao's opponent was at Floyd Mayweather's level, Pacquiao threw out a familiar name he hopes will convince officials it's worth breaking the bank.

“Plano ko kasi mag-rematch kay (Juan Manuel) Marquez at dito ko s’ya dadalhin sa Pilipinas,” Pacquiao said in an interview with Boyet Sison and Freddie Webb on DZMM’s "Fast Break" radio show.

Marquez is the last fighter to drop Pacquiao. The Mexican counterpuncher stopped the Filipino boxer back in December 2012 with a well-timed right cross in the 6th round of their 4th encounter.

Pacquiao said that a 5th fight will be a guaranteed hit given their history.

“Maganda kasi ‘pag kami naglaban, hindi takbu-takbuhan,” said Pacquiao. “Pinaplano namin sa last quarter ng taon dito sa Pilipinas.”

(It'll be a great fight because we don't run from one another inside the ring. We're looking at putting this together in the last quarter of the year here in the Philippines.)

Pacquiao said he estimated the cost of staging a fight of such magnitude at about P2.5 billion to P3 billion.

“Lahat na iyon (gastos sa) undercard, promotion, hotel accommodation, lahat na ‘yan,” he said.

• FULL STORY: Marquez insists 5th Pacquiao fight not necessary

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo earlier said in an interview on DZMM’s Pasada Sais Trenta that the fighting senator is requesting a P3-billion funding for a bout in November.

Teo said the DOT isn't inclined to grant the boxer’s wish unless he’s fighting someone as popular as he is.

“Sabi ko, 'pag si (Floyd) Mayweather siguro ang kalaban niya o si Marquez. I was telling him, 'pag Mayweather o si Marquez, madali 'yung i-sell, kaya namin ang P3 billion,” Teo said.

Fight analyst Dennis Principe said what Pacquiao was asking for is a realistic figure.

But he pointed out that it won’t happen against Mayweather, who hasn’t fought outside Las Vegas for years.

“If you remember Mayweather insists he’s always the ‘A’ side, he wants to call the shots. And calling the shots doesn’t mean he will agree to a fight with Manny here in the Philippines,” he said.

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