While he said a fight with Edwin Valero seems inevitable, Manny Pacquiao added that he?s ready to face anybody else, including Ricky Hatton, the pride of Manchester.
Upon his arrival from the United States yesterday, less than a week after demolishing David Diaz at Mandalay Bay, Pacquiao talked about his next fight, which is scheduled on Nov. 8.
?Valero has been saying a lot of things about me. There will come a time where our paths will cross. I think he?s doing everything for our paths to cross,? said Pacquiao at the aiport.
The 29-year-old superstar, now a four-time champion in different weight classes, arrived at the NAIA Terminal 2 at around 5:30 a.m. and faced so many questions from mediamen.
In a plaid shirt, blue jeans and rubber shoes, his three kids all over him, Pacquiao talked about his boxing career, the victims of Typhoon ?Frank? and his political plans for 2010.
Pacquiao?s promoter, Bob Arum, is batting for an immediate fight with Valero of Venezuela, who has knocked out all his 24 opponents, 19 of them in the first round.
Earlier this week, Arum said ?it?s a go? for a Pacquiao-Valero showdown, probably in Texas, adding that he had met with Valero?s manager, Akihiko Honda.
But unless the fight contract is signed, anything is possible. They are all lining up to face Pacquiao because it?s like hitting the jackpot in the lottery ? win or lose.
Pacquiao said at the airport he?s not aware of any deal between Arum and Honda yet because otherwise he would have been the first to know. But he said he?s ready for anybody.
?Valero? Yes. But if it?s Hatton, I?m also ready to move up to 140 pounds. I?m willing to go to London just to face him. I won?t have any problem with that,? said Pacquiao.
With his tremendous following, Hatton can pack any venue in London, and it wouldn?t be difficult for promoters to take the fight to Wembley Stadium if it?s against Pacquiao.
Hatton is now under Golden Boy Promotions, and his next fight would be the first of three under the GBP contract. Hatton is scheduled to face Paul Malignaggi in November.
But in boxing, money talks.
?I like Hatton because he fights toe-to-toe. Bakbakan talaga (A real fight),? said Pacquiao, adding that if the pride of Manchester is his next opponent then he?d start training next month.
?If it?s Hatton, I?d train for three months,? said Pacquiao.
Other possible opponents for Pacquiao, depending on their schedules, are Humberto Soto, Joel Casamayor, Nate Campbell, Juan Manuel Marquez or Joan Guzman.
At the airport, Pacquiao said he?s donating P3 million to the thousands of the typhoon victims, and that it?s up to the authorities how the money should be spent ? wisely.
?I want to help in my own little way,? he said.
He was also asked about his political plans ? if ever there?s one following his loss in the race for the Congressional seat in his hometown in Gen. Santos City last year.
?It?s still far away,? he said of the 2010 elections.
?But that?s always been my dream of helping the poor because I was poor once. There were days when we in our family couldn?t even have rice for our meals,? he said.
Pacquiao, unknown to many, has been sending close to 200 children to school under a scholarship program.
?I just didn?t want the people to know that,? he said.
Despite his popularity, Pacquiao lost terribly in last year?s polls, but said everything was a blessing in disguise.
?Now I understand why the people did not vote for me and why they did not support me. They were right. Because if I won in that elections, I wouldn?t have won this record fourth world title,? he said.
?Maybe when my boxing career is over, then I can join politics,? he said.
