Manny Pacquiao has reportedly chosen to fight WBC lightweight champion David Diaz instead of WBC super-featherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Although there?s no official announcement yet, a Team Pacquiao insider in the US, where Pacquiao is right now, said the Filipino megastar is ready and raring to invade the lightweight class (135 lbs).
The finer details of Pacquiao?s next fight will come out soon.
Marquez, who is dying for a rematch with Pacquiao, may have to wait until June or July. Pacquiao is planning to stage three fights next year, the first in March and the third by September.
Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles the other day for a meeting with his promoter, Top Rank?s Bob Arum, and the shooting of a star-studded commercial for Nike. He doesn?t intend to stay long in the US.
Pacquiao?s ring adviser, Wakee Salud, however, said the fight with Diaz only becomes official once the contract is signed.
?For me, it?s 80 percent Diaz. We have to see the signatures on the fight contract first,? said Salud. ?But Diaz is the better fight. Manny will get much more fighting Diaz.?
Pacquiao has hinted of a forthcoming fight with Diaz when he said he prefers to face Marquez when he is already a world champion. He also stressed that he?s not running away from Marquez.
?Why should I be scared? I?ve never run away from any fight as long as we?re of the same weight. As a boxer, my job is to fight,? said Pacquiao of Marquez, the boxer from Golden Boy.
?Wouldn?t it be nice if I fight Marquez when I am the champion?? said Pacquiao.
If it?s Diaz, then Pacquiao will have to move up to 135 lbs. Marquez, the champion at 130 lbs, said he?s willing to move up in weight, too, and take a cut on his paycheck just to face Pacquiao.
Fighting Diaz would also mean fighting only under one promoter, Arum. Fighting Marquez will open all doors for Golden Boy, and probably a smaller take for the Filipino superstar.
?Both Bob Arum and Manny will make more money fighting Diaz who can give a better fight than Marquez who is known as a counter-puncher,? said Salud.
