A GAG order remains in effect among officials of Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) in relation with a possible mediation between the two promotional outfits over Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao.
“We’ll probably know before the end of the week what’s in store for Manny because the (retired) judge is still making calls to the concerned parties,” said the Team Pacquiao insider yesterday afternoon.
While the Los Angeles judge is working on a viable solution, the Canadian city of Vancouver is “eagerly awaiting the result” since the group has already struck a deal with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
“Promoting a Pacquiao fight over there looks very promising that in the event it is held there, they expect a sellout crowd,” said the boxing man.
Canadian businessman Geoffrey Hughes has penciled the 19,000-seat GM Place in downtown Vancouver as venue of Pacquiao’s defense of the World Boxing Council International super-featherweight crown possibly against Mexico’s Humberto Soto on Oct. 6.
Once Top Rank makes a formal announcement, it is likely that Pacquiao will be brought to Vancouver to promote the fight, according to the insider.
Top Rank and GBP are being represented by high-powered attorneys whose services come at a hefty price.
Meanwhile, Pancho Valenzuela, Soto’s long-time trainer, told the Hispanic website box-latino that the 27-year-old native of Los Mochis has the tools needed to upset someone like Pacquiao.
Jeff Spitz is being joined by Burt Fields and Judd Burstein over at GBP, while Daniel Petrocelli is the man tapped by Arum, also a lawyer, to take the cudgels for Top Rank.
“Humberto has the style to beat (Pacquiao’s southpaw style); I feel that he (Soto) is unique and will be the Mexican executioner (of Pacquiao),” said Valenzuela, who called the shots when Soto mauled Manny’s younger brother Bobby on June 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“Humberto wants to prove that he is the best in the world and myself as the best tactician. This is a challenge for both of us and there’s no other great challenge than Pacquiao,” added Valenzuela.
