THE major barrier preventing a third meeting between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Mexican warrior Juan Manuel Marquez has finally been removed, paving the way for the staging of one of boxing’s most intriguing rivalries in November.

Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) came up short of matching the lucrative deal offered on the 37-year-old Marquez by rival outfit Top Rank, a key component needed to avert the scheduled Nov. 12 fight between two of the best fighters in the history of prizefighting.

Bob Arum, the venerable head of Top Rank, said the offer wasn’t matched by Golden Boy after meeting with GBP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Schaefer in a meeting Monday in Los Angeles. Top Rank president Todd duBoef was also present.

“He (Schaefer) told us we could go ahead with Marquez,” said Arum as reported by ESPN boxing columnist Dan Rafael.

“They said they would cooperate and not try to interfere. They waived any connection with Marquez and said they would not interfere with us contracting the fight. They let us know that we were free to go ahead.”

Arum and Marquez already made a deal Tuesday, also in Los Angeles, shortly after Golden Boy made it known that it is refusing to match the Top Rank offer that would have the Mexican native receiving $5 million in guaranteed purse and a share in the pay-per-view buys.

Marquez, from Mexico City, is also guaranteed to receive $10 million and an upside in the pay-per-view in case a rematch is held should the Mexican wins in November.

Golden Boy has offered Marquez a new deal when his old contract with the company expired last February. But the soft-spoken Mexican refused to sign with the outfit owned by Oscar De La Hoya as he pursues a third encounter with the Filipino eight-time world champion.

This time, Pacquiao and Marquez will fight at a catch-weight of 144 pounds. Marquez is moving up again from 135 pounds after doing so in his bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. two years ago, while Pacquiao is going down from 147 pounds where he is currently the welterweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Marquez has not fought since stopping Australian Michael Katsidis in the 9th round of their World Boxing Association (WBA)/WBO lightweight title bout, and in anticipation for a tough battle with the Pacman, he is set to take on American David Diaz in a tune-up fight set July 2 in his native Mexico City.

Pacquiao beat Diaz black and blue in nine dominant rounds to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown in 2008.

“He’s (Marquez) going to do that fight, and if he loses, he’s out,” said Arum of the Marquez-Diaz showdown.

Pacquiao has yet to agree in making the fight with Marquez, although Arum doesn’t see any problem with the Filipino southpaw objecting to it.

The Top Rank promoter said he expects Pacquiao to sign the dotted line by the end of the month once his adviser Michael Konz sat down with the greatest Filipino athlete ever to explain the finer details of the contract.