TWO FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS HAVE been floated as possible opponents for superstar Manny Pacquiao in May.
International boxing agent Rafael Mendoza, according to Box Latino website, has announced that HBO is contemplating on Oscar “Chololo” Larios or Javier Jauregui to face Pacquiao in May here.
Although the final decision has yet to be made, Mendoza said that Jauregui would be in a better position to snag a fight with Pacquiao, considering that he is a legitimate super-featherweight compared to the smaller Larios.
Jauregui, who holds a 51-win, 12-loss, 2-draw record with 35 KOs, took a controversial majority decision win over Filipino Randy Suico last September and previously held the IBF lightweight title.
Larios (56-4-1 with 36 knockouts) is the former WBC superbantam king who won the title from Israel Vazquez, but yielded it back to Vazquez in their grudge rematch last December.
Reports coming out of Team Pacquiao indicate that the national icon plans to promote his own fight in May, as well as the September rubber-match planned against Erik “El Terrible” Morales.
Should Pacquiao start promoting his own bouts, he would join the likes of Oscar De la Hoya, Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins who promote their own fights based on the merits of their crossover appeal.
Should a May fight happen here, Pacquiao has reportedly been assured of the financial backing by corporate giant San Miguel Corp., whose products Pacquiao will be endorsing.
San Miguel, through its chair Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, dangled a hefty package for Pacquiao, including a virtual ‘golden parachute’ that would take care of the boxing hero long after his retirement from boxing.
“The deal includes a P2.5 million annual package for Pacquiao for the next ten years after he retires from boxing,” Rex “Wakee” Salud, Pacquiao’s close friend, told this writer.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao decided to scrap his scheduled trip to Japan today.
Pacquiao was supposed to fly to Nagoya, but a source indicated the boxing idol “was overfatigued” following his visit to Cebu City, where he paid a courtesy call on Mayor Tomas Osme?a and gave in to fans’ requests for photo-ops and autographs.
Pacquiao wanted to cheer for Filipino OPBF champs Randy Suico and Malcolm Tunacao, who are staking their titles tomorrow.
