Only Manny's signature needed to seal Pacquiao-Marquez IV

Only Manny Pacquiao’s signature is needed to seal a fourth showdown Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

This was confirmed by Yahoo! Sports boxing expert Ronnie Nathanielsz, who said Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz told him they are just awaiting the arrival of the Filipino boxing icon in the United States within the next day or two to formally ink the fight contract.

A formal announcement from Top Rank promoter Bob Arum will be made on September 18. The fight is scheduled for December 8 (December 9 in Manila) in Las Vegas and will reportedly be at 147 pounds, or four pounds above the 144-pound catchweight of the third fight.

Pacquiao will reportedly train exclusively at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, deviating from his usual practice of spending his first few weeks of training for a fight in Baguio City.

Pacquiao narrowly beat Marquez when they last fought in November 2011, eking out a controversial majority decision. The Mexican walked out of the ring after the result was announced, and vowed to retire after what he felt was another unfair decision. But he fought again last April, winning the interim WBO light welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Serhiy Fedchenko.

Their second meeting, in March 2008, produced another close result, a split decision in favor of Pacquiao, who knocked Marquez down in the third round.

The two great rivals’ first meeting in May 2004 ended in a draw, with Pacquiao sending Marquez to the canvas three times in the first round and the Mexican rallying in the later rounds.

Pacquiao himself lost a controversial split decision last May to Timothy Bradley, his first loss in over seven years.