IF pride and greed will not stand in the way, a royal rumble among boxing’s current superstars will happen this September.
Veteran promoter Bob Arum disclosed his dream promotion that will have Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao fighting Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch while the comain event will pit super-featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez against compatriot Humberto Soto.
The winner of both matchups, Arum added, would then clash in a superfight early next year.
Arum said that dream will easily become a reality if only bitter rival Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) will finally sit down and talk with him.
“If Golden Boy will listen to Barrera, the fight will happen,” said Arum when asked by select mediamen who covered the presser. “Barrera already informed them of his desire to meet Pacquiao.”
Arum revealed his plans in yesterday’s final prefight press conference of the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight clash between defending champion Miguel Cotto and challenger Zab Judah.
Cotto, said to be the next superstar to come out of Puerto Rico since the retirement of Felix Trinidad, stakes his crown versus Judah Sunday (Manila time) at the Madison Square Garden.
“Pacquiao is no longer interested with any title. All he wants is to fight the best,” added Arum, big boss of Top Rank Inc.
A glitch may happen this Sunday if Pacquiao’s kid brother Bobby ends up the victor of his nontitle bout against Soto.
Bobby’s clash with Soto will serve as one of the undercards of the Cotto-Judah collission. The official weigh-in of the card entitled “X-plosive” will be held tomorrow.
Arum handles the career of Soto while Pacquiao recognizes the Harvard-educated lawyer as his promoter.
GBP, owned by boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya, promotes Barrera and Marquez, the current World Boxing Council (WBC) super-feathereight champion.
Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank Inc. are in the middle of a bitter legal dispute regarding the promotional rights to Pacquiao.
The Filipino boxing icon signed two identical promotional deal with GBP and Top Rank.
First, Pacquiao entered into a seven-fight deal with GBP September of last year.
After his three-round conquest of Erik Morales late last year, Pacquiao signed a similar promotional deal with Top Rank.
Two cases are being heard both in Los Angeles and Las Vegas regarding the promotional mess.
Though the matter is still being litigated, Pacquiao has been recently dealing with Top Rank. His most recent fight, an 8th round knockout victory over Mexican Jorge Solis, was promoted by Top Rank held last April at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
If Arums version of a Royal Rumble comes to fruition, the ideal date and venue would be on September 15 either in Las Vegas or Vancouver.
But if GBP will stand firm in their legal battle, Arum will then consider his second option of pairing Soto against Pacquiao in September most likely in Macau.
Arum disclosed that no entity has a hold on the prized September 15 date with cable giant HBO, an indication that everything is still possible in determining the best available match-up in the star-studded 130lb bailiwick.
GBP recently claimed that they have booked a September gig with HBO for Marquez in a planned rematch with Barrera in Las Vegas.
March of this year, Marquez won the WBC crown from Barrera in their classic 12-round battle at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
American trainer Freddie Roach recently claimed that Barrera is the most attractive fighter in terms of prize money but it still will be an easy fight for Pacquiao.
Manny will retire Barrera in their rematch, Roach once told BusinessMirror. Its the fight people want to see. It’s better for Manny to meet Barrera before taking another big fight.
A report recently came out of Pacquiaos Pacland website stating that a source from within GBP camp revealed a planned $10-million fight purse offer for Pacquiao if he battles Barrera in a rematch.
Pacquiao gave Barrera 11-rounds of hell in their November 2003 clash for the Peoples Featherweight championship held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The win catapulted Pacquiao to boxing stardom which he still enjoys at the moment.
