Ask anybody in the super featherweight class who they are gunning for and the answer is loud and clear, “MANNY PACQUIAO!”
The Filipino fighter who draws the attention of fans and fighters from across the globe will stay in the super feather class for at least one more fight, a rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez.
It seems as if “Pacman” is destined to make the historically treacherous jump from featherweight to lightweight during 2008, but that has not kept the rest of the super feather weight division dreaming of clashes with the Pinoy Cash Cow.
The two loudest challengers of Pacquiao have been WBA super featherweight champion Edwin Valero and WBO super featherweight champion Joan Guzman. While Guzman has been publicly nixed from the Pacquiao stakes by the Filipino’s partial promoter Bob Arum, the Dominican Dandy continues to call out the fighting pride of General Santos, RPI.
This is not a new challenge or battle cry for Guzman, who has been hot on Pacquiao’s tail since 2003. During those times, both Guzman and Pacquiao were flexing their skills in the super bantamweight class. No matter how loud or consistant the battle cry, Pacquiao’s handlers have turned a deaf ear to Guzman’s challenge.
As for Valero, the Venezuelan has just recently started his campaign to court Pacquiao. During 2007, Valero started to challenge Pacquiao in the press; raising the hopes of an explosive all lefty battle amongst hardcore fight fans.
Unfortunately for Valero and Guzman, neither man brings much to the table of boxing economics. Both fighters are well known among hardcore fight fans, but do not have the mass appeal to lure Pacquiao into the risky scenarios both present.
Guzman’s speed and mobility could present fits for Pacquiao, while the explosively aggressive, but awkward, style that Valero has honed could possibly equal Manny’s own odd and powerful presentation. It is doubtful that the powers that be in Manny’s professional life will throw caution into the wind and pit their money maker in dangerous encounters that do not present a high financial return.
In the real world, both of these men need to make themselves a marketable fighter for Pacquiao, who is well on the way out of the super featherweight division, and quick. The best thing Guzman and Valero could do is fight themselves in a unification fight, which is the most realistic option for both, and hope that Manny defeats Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBC and could be lured into a unification bout for the WBO and WBA belts that would be held by the winner of Valero ? Guzman.
Guzman – Valero presents another excellent fight to fans, would be the biggest money fight either man could make (aside from a fight with Pacquiao), and the loser of a unification fight always lives to fight again.
Makes sense?
Not to Valero.
Earlier in the week, while covering Valera’s pay per view fight in Cancun, Michael Marley reported that while Guzman has interest in fighting Valero, the enigmatic Venezuelan has no interest in fighting his Dominican counter-part.
I guess Valero thinks he can keep fighting sub-prime opposition in Japan or Mexico and hope to lure Pacquiao into his web. Very faulty thinking by Teiken Promotions, who guides the care of Pacquiao. What makes the Japanese based promoter think that Manny Pacquiao, eying bigger fights with the likes of Juan Diaz, David Diaz, and even possibly, Oscar De La Hoya, would throw all caution into the wind and fight Valero.
Keep in mind, as well, that Guzman is willing to fight Valero outside of the United States. Valero still has a medical suspension in the United States to deal with, another major roadblock to a fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Teiken and Valero’s stance against a fight with Guzman makes no sense, at all.
Teiken should wake up and push for a Guzman vs. Valero match-up. In a best case scenario,if Valero wins, he puts themselves in the position to have a very strong claim to challenge Pacquiao; based on competitive merits. And in the worst case, as a winner, he can claim to be the King of a Post-Pacquiao/Barrera/Morales Super Featherweights or could challenge Juan Manuel Marquez in another lucrative fight.
