HOUSTON, TEXAS — His wish has been granted.
Hours after defending his World Boxing Council International super featherweight crown on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Manny Pacquiao received word that he would face Juan Manuel Marquez for the bigger WBC title in the middle of September.
Pacquiao wants Marquez to be his next opponent because he has a score to settle with the Mexican, who survived three first round knockdowns and managed to escape with a draw in their first meeting on May 8, 2004 in Las Vegas
“Gusto ko siyang makalaban (I want to fight him),” Pacquiao told Filipino sportswriters over the phone at the airport here.
Pacquiao, who left for Manila from Los Angeles Sunday evening, was reacting to a report that Top Rank was able to work out a deal on the second Marquez fight moments after he knocked out Mexican challenger Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Top Rank’s Ricardo Jimenez offered the information after being pressed to name Pacquiao’s next opponent following the “Blaze of Glory” fight card at the Alamodome which drew 14,793 fans.
Barrera also being considered
After the controversial draw against Pacquiao, Marquez regained prominence by wresting the WBC super featherweight title from Marco Antonio Barrera last March in Las Vegas.
Barrera, who was also beaten by Pacquiao in their first meeting in San Antonio on Nov, 15, 2003, is among those being considered by Top Rank chief honcho Bob Arum to be the Filipino ring superstar’s next opponent.
The others in Arum’s short list are Humberto Soto and Joan Guzman.
Soto has been paired with Manny’s younger brother, Bobby, on June 9 in New York City.
The bout, an undercard in the Miguel Cotto-Zab Judah welterweight showdown at the Madison Square Garden, will be confirmed during a press conference on Tuesday in New York.
Pacquiao said he is willing to face anybody in his division.
“Kahit sino naman puwede (Anybody will do),” said Manny. “Pero mas gusto ko si Marquez (But I prefer Marquez).”
The only hitch, it seems, is the fact that Marquez fights under Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, which is engaged in a legal battle with Top Rank for the promotional rights to Pacquiao.
