If plan pushes through, the next fight of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao against either Humberto Soto or undefeated Joan Guzman will be held in Manila.
Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain revealed on Monday a plan to make Pacquiao’s next fight as main attraction of the 45th World Boxing Council Convention which the country will host from November 11 to 17 this year.
“We have ongoing series of meetings with MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions about the possibility of bringing Manny’s next fight in the country during the boxing convention and Manny is considering that proposal,” said Buhain.
International promoter Bob Arum recently reduced Pacquiao’s possible next opponents to just two, deleting out of the picture the names of reigning WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and unbeaten Edwin Valero.
“Whoever will be the next opponent of Manny would remain a big attraction during the World Boxing Convention and, hopefully, we can bring his next fight here in Manila again,” Buhain said.
The last time the Philippines hosted the World Boxing Convention was in 1975 and it was highlighted by ‘Thrilla in Manila’ featuring world heavyweight champions Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
“That ‘Thrilla in Manila’ was 32 years ago and, I think, it’s about time that we embark on Part II of that big boxing fight featuring our very own Manny Pacquiao,” Buhain explained.
Buhain said that his staff will have another meeting on Tuesday morning and, this time, with Pacquiao himself who returned on Monday from the United States where he received the prestigious Boxer of the Year award from a group of American boxing writers.
If Pacquiao’s handlers, including Arum, agreed to GAB’s proposal, the big boxing match will be held at the Araneta Coliseum where Pacquiao defeated Mexican Oscar Larios on July 2, 2006. (PNA)
