Manny Pacquiao will be in New York City Wednesday to discuss with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum whom to fight next and it looks like the Filipino boxing icon’s top pick is Marco Antonio Barrera.
WBC superfeatherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez is not among the candidates because of his lack of turnstile appeal. Aside from Barrera, the choices are WBA champion Edwin Valero of Venezuela, WBO titlist Joan (Little Tyson) Guzman of the Dominican Republic and European king Alex Arthur of Scotland.
“It’s all up to Manny,” said one of Pacquiao’s ring advisers Michael Koncz Monday. “If Barrera is able to get Golden Boy to agree, Manny will probably do a rematch in Las Vegas on Sept. 15. If not, he’ll fight Arthur or Guzman in Vancouver or Valero in Macau on Oct. 6. Those are the options at the moment.”
Barrera is reportedly meeting Oscar de la Hoya in Los Angeles this week to pressure Golden Boy into allowing a Pacquiao rematch despite legal differences with Top Rank.
De la Hoya claims Golden Boy owns Pacquiao’s promotional rights and has gone to court to sue Top Rank for contract interference. After signing a contract with Golden Boy, Pacquiao renounced it and came to terms on a four-year agreement with Top Rank last year. He turned his back on Golden Boy after being assured an existing contract with Top Rank will make null and avoid any agreement signed with another party.
“We understand Barrera’s position is if he doesn’t get to fight Pacquiao, he’s retiring so he’s putting the pressure on Golden Boy to allow the rematch,” said Koncz in a phone call from Los Angeles.
Golden Boy has announced that Marquez will defend the title against Barrera in a rematch on Sept. 15 but if Barrera wants no other opponent than Pacquiao, the date will be open for it.
There is more market interest in another Pacquiao-Barrera fight than in a return match between Marquez and Barrera who are both promoted by Golden Boy.
The speculation is Top Rank and Golden Boy will compromise to stage the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch. Boxing, after all, is business and the rival promotional companies will go where the money is.
But Koncz said for the rematch to happen, Pacquiao’s terms must be upheld.
“If Golden Boy pushes for a 50-50 sharing, then Manny won’t do it,” said Koncz. “Manny’s the attraction, not Barrera. He should get the bigger share. Let’s wait and see what happens when Barrera talks with Golden Boy this week.”
If Barrera’s hands are tied, Koncz said Vancouver is ready to host Pacquiao’s next fight.
“The Vancouver promoters are prepared to pay the site fee right now and they’re not mandating an opponent,” said Koncz. “Arthur’s name has cropped up. Guzman is another alternative. Freddie (Roach) thinks either one will be a good opponent for Manny.”
Guzman, 31, has a 27-0 record, with 17 KOs. He won the WBO 130-pound title five years ago and has beaten four challengers. Although he has scored eight first round KOs, Guzman won his last six bouts on points. Golden Boy has a minority stake in Guzman whose rights are controlled by Sycuan Ringside Promotions, a California-based outfit owned by the Sycuan native American tribe of the Kumeyaay Nation.
