TOP RANK big boss Bob Arum has four names in mind for Manny Pacquiao’s next fight.
‘’Marco Antonio Barrera, Joan Guzman, Humberto Soto and Edwin Valero,’’ Arum told the Bulletin yesterday afternoon while relaxing at the palatial home of Pacquiao in General Santos City.
Arum arrived in the country early Thursday and caught the 7 a.m. flight to GenSan accompanied by Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz.
Arum said he will head back to the US on May 13, one day before the local election.
Arum said that the choice of opponent for Pacquiao will only be known after the May 14 elections.
Barrera is high on the list because he is craving for a rematch with the Filipino lefty although the rest also have a shot as Pacquiao’s next adversary.
Meanwhile, the two Filipino fighters who made waves in the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather super-bout over the weekend – super-bantamweight Rey ‘Boom Boom’’ Bautista and super-fly AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal – are aching to get back in the ring but Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) has the answer as to when they are going take the spotlight again.
Tony Aldeguer, the chief handler of Bautists and Banal, told the Bulletin that the De La Hoya-owned GBP will initiate talks with prospective foes.
‘’GBP will hold talks with their opponents and from there we will know the schedule,’’ said Aldeguer, who remained in the US to attend to his ailing mother.
Bautista beat Sergio Medina of Argentina, while Banal defeated Alberto Rosas of Mexico at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The two returned to the country early yesterday morning and both expressed willingness to showcase their wares against fancied foes. They were greeted by airport personnel upon setting foot in Manila on board Philippine Airlines that originated from McCarran International in Las Vegas.
GBP will stage a showdown between Mexico and the Philippines sometime in August or September either in Manila or Cebu with Bautista topping the card against Daniel Ponce De Leon for the World Boxing Organization 122-lb throne.
