Manny Pacquiao, and not anyone else outside of his team, will make the decision on whoever he wants to fight next ? whenever, wherever.
Top Rank president and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum yesterday told The STAR the decision will be made by Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach hopefully as soon as possible.
?Manny will fight whoever he wants to fight. It?s Manny who will make the decision and I?ll only go along,? said Arum in an overseas conversation yesterday morning (Manila time).
Arum reacted to reports that World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman has urged Pacquiao to fight reigning WBC super-featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez next.
?It?s time to look forward to victory and the title and not only fight for money. History will not remember the fights that were not for the belt,? Sulaiman told philboxing.com yesterday.
?Because as time goes by you will only read who was the champion and all those things. I believe this is the time Pacquiao decides to fight for the title and get over the draw with Marquez,? the WBC chief said.
Pacquiao and Marquez figured in a very controversial draw in 2004 but have avoided each other?s paths since then. A rematch is certainly every fight fan wants to see.
?I?m sure he (Sulaiman) has good things in mind. But don?t worry about it. Manny will fight whoever he wants to fight,? added Arum, hoping to see Pacquiao fight three times in 2008.
?I just talked to Freddie Roach. And it?s Manny and Freddie who will make the decision. I?ll go along with whatever decision they make. But Manny should fight in March,? Arum said.
Aside from Marquez, a handful more boxers are lining up to face the Filipino superstar, each one of them hoping for a lucrative fight, probably the most lucrative in their respective careers.
They are WBA super-featherweight champion Edwin Valero, WBO super-featherweight titlist Joan Guzman, upcoming Humberto Soto, WBC lightweight champ David Diaz, WBO-WBA-IBF lightweight king Juan Diaz, and 135-lb Ring champion Joel Casamayor.
Pacquiao said he can remain at 130 lbs or climb to 135 lbs for his next fight, and that the decision will depend on the negotiations. He said he?s willing to face any of these candidates.
?If the price is right,? he said.
