MANILA, Philippines — Plans are slowly taking shape for Manny Pacquiao to gun for the World Boxing Council lightweight belt of champion David Diaz in March next year.
Pacquiao, who pummeled Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera into retirement two months ago, will be meeting with promoter Bob Arum on Thanksgiving night in Las Vegas to discuss the details of the fight, according to sources in Team Pacquiao.
It will easily be the biggest fight for the Filipino ring icon to date, one that involves a world title and a very fat check.
The choice of Diaz as a foe came after Pacquiao?s camp dropped Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz from the roster of probable opponents when he fights in the first quarter of next year at a still undisclosed location.
Key details of the bout that will assure both Pacquiao and Diaz of their biggest purses ever will be released after Thursday?s dinner, the same sources said.
Dethroning Diaz would give the Filipino hero his third world championship. He had been the World Boxing Council flyweight titleholder and International Boxing Federation superbantam king.
Arum said on Monday that he still wanted Pacquiao to fight Oscar de la Hoya at 147 pounds.
Pacquiao owns two knockout victories over Erik Morales, the Mexican legend whom Diaz outpointed on Aug. 4 in Chicago.
Sources in the Pacquiao camp said the Filipino?s new friendship with Morales could be one of the biggest reasons why he is going after Diaz.
Pacquiao?s trainer, Freddie Roach, however, said WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez is still a logical choice considering the two fought to a controversial draw the first time they met.
