LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao's struggle to a controversial victory over Juan Manuel Marquez could nudge the Filipino boxing icon closer to a mega-fight showdown against unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao stretched his win streak to 15 fights with a majority decision over Marquez on Saturday in Las Vegas, but lacked the overpowering form he had shown in seven fights since a controversial triumph over Marquez in 2008.

"PacMan" needed 28 stitches to close a cut over his right eye suffered in a 10th-round head-butt and had two judges who gave him the final round scored it the other way, the fight would have been scored a draw.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum dismissed Marquez's talk that he might retire, saying the likely $10million payday for a fourth fight could change his mind and that he would try to stage a fourth Marquez-Pacquiao fight in May next year.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, said he felt Marquez deserved a rematch before the Asian southpaw faced Mayweather. And while Pacquiao was open to a Marquez rematch, he made it clear he was also ready to face Mayweather, saying when asked about the prospect, "Let's get it on. Let's make the fight happen."

Mayweather has said he wants to fight Pacquiao in May.