Márquez: Pacquiao Needs to Get Past Me Before He Can Think About Mayweather

(AP)

Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Márquez has heard all of the talk of Manny Pacquaio vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. But he has a message for those clamoring for that fight:

“A lot of people say ‘I want to see the fight, Pacquiao and Mayweather,'" he said.

"He needs to win [over] me [first]," Márquez said of Pacquaio. "The important date for me is Nov. 12. I don’t think more, I don’t see in the future,” he told “Unang Hirit” about his fast approaching fight with Pacquaio.

For his part, Márquez has started training in the Philippines for his November fight against Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Fans snapped pictures of Márquez jogging in a downtown Manila park only hours after he arrived from Los Angeles on Thursday.

His third matchup with Pacquiao in what already has been an epic series is set for Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. Márquez said he's preparing mentally and working on his speed and power.

Márquez and Pacquiao faced each other in the ring for the first time in 2004, with the fight ending in a draw. In 2008, the two had a controversial rematch with Pacquiao winning via split-decision.

The Mexican told reporters he's friends with Pacquiao outside the ring and "inside the ring he's a great fighter." The two are scheduled to hold a joint news conference Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.