In a last-minute decision, handlers of International Boxing Federation junior featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao decided late Thursday not to push through with a planned purse bid of $250,000 for a mandatory defense against top-rated contender Jose Luis Valbuena.
Instead, they relinquished the crown and opted to negotiate for a featherweight showdown with either Paulie Ayala, Oscar Larios or reigning IBF/World Boxing Association champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao has indicated he wants Marquez following his devastating 11th-round TKO of legendary featherweight Marco Antonio Barrera, especially after Top Rank president Bob Arum, who handles Marquez said he was ?the best featherweight in the world today.?
However, trainer Freddie Roach, who had cautioned against fighting Marquez next after the tough fight against Barrera, said that Marquez didn?t want to fight Pacquiao.
Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario yesterday confirmed the change of plans on the purse bid, even though he had earlier instructed his son Roberto, who is based in San Francisco and runs his boxing affairs in the US, to make a purse bid of $250,000.
