Juan Manuel Marquez submits terms to fight Manny Pacquiao

Juan Manuel Marquez and two other boxers vying to become Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent submitted term sheets to the Filipino star’s promoter, it was learned Thursday, while the yearlong pursuit of a much-anticipated Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super-fight remained bitterly out of reach.

Marquez’s promoter, Richard Schaefer, said he has turned over to Top Rank the financial terms and weight limit under which the lightweight title holder would agree to a third fight with Pacquiao.

Similar term sheets were filed by world welterweight champions Andre Berto and Pomona’s Shane Mosley, and all will be discussed with Pacquiao when the fighter celebrates his 32nd birthday on Dec. 17 in the Philippines.

Specifics of Marquez’s terms were not released but Schaefer, who also represents Mayweather, characterized the proposal as “very fair and reasonable.”

Marquez, who fought Pacquiao to a 2004 draw and then lost in a 2008 split-decision he disputed, earned about $3 million in the second bout. A third fight would be worth substantially more, given Pacquiao’s standing and Marquez’s warrior reputation.

Yet one barrier to a Pacquiao-Marquez bout is the friction between Schaefer and Top Rank’s chairman, Bob Arum, that has prevented a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

On Thursday, Schaefer bristled at comments from the day before in which Arum told The Times that only “an idiot” would use Mayweather’s current legal trouble in Nevada to delay negotiations with Pacquiao. Mayweather faces felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly striking the mother of his children and threatening his kids. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 24.

Schaefer, who has promoted all of Mayweather’s fights since 2007, has said he would respect Nevada’s legal process before scheduling a Mayweather fight.

But Arum also had said no elected Nevada judge would interfere with a bout that could generate $500 million in the state’s economy.

“What kind of stupid comment is that from a Harvard lawyer?” Schaefer asked Thursday. “Not everyone thinks money first. … There’s no price on doing things the right way, and if Floyd wants to let his legal process play out before he agrees to the fight, I support him.”

Arum, told of Schaefer’s comments, cracked, “Where did he pass his bar exam? He’s not even connected to Mayweather. He’s a hoper, a wannabe. I know for a fact Floyd has not decided who’s going to represent him for his next fight. Schaefer has no leg up. I hear the leading horse in that race is Don King.”

Pacquiao may want to have his next opponent in place before Christmas since Arum set the April 16 date for the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“If I don’t hear from Floyd by the time I’m in the Philippines, it’s probably too late,” Arum said. “Floyd knows all he has to do is pick up the phone … and it’ll get done.”

Schaefer acknowledged, though, that he has not been officially informed by the Mayweather camp whether the unbeaten boxer wants to see his legal situation settled first. Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s advisor, failed to return messages seeking comment Thursday.

“Floyd Mayweather is not on a Manny Pacquiao clock,” Schaefer said. “Money is not above the law in Nevada or anywhere else in this country. And if believing that makes me an idiot, I’m happy to be an idiot.”

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

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