GEN. SANTOS CITY, Philippines—List Dominican Joan Guzman No. 1 on Manny Pacquiao’s roster of likely opponents.
Bob Arum, chief honcho of Top Rank which is promoting Pacquiao’s fights, revealed this yesterday in an interview at the East Asia Royale Hotel here.
Guzman, the WBO super featherweight champ, ranks high in the fight card—likely to take place in late September or early October in the United States—if only because there have been exploratory talks with Sycuan Promotions, which manages the unbeaten Guzman.
Arum is in the country to provide moral support for Pacquiao’s congressional bid in the first district of South Cotabato.
Others being considered, in Arum’s order of preference, are: knockout king Edwin Valero, the WBA super featherweight titlist; Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera and Mexican Humberto Soto, who is slated to fight Bobby Pacquiao, Manny’s younger brother on June 8 in New York.
WBC super featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Marquez, despite his unaninous decision victory over Barrera in March, is low on the list at No. 5.
Arum said a Pacquiao-Marquez fight isn’t economically feasible as the Mexican is demanding a lot of money because “he has the belt.”
The 74-year-old Arum shrugged off Marquez’s demand saying “he (Marquez) has no fan base at all.”
Marquez is best remembered for surviving three first round knockdowns and forging a draw with Pacquiao in May 2004 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The Tokyo-based Valero, who has stopped all 22 foes, the first 18 in the first round, has expressed willingness to tangle with Pacquiao. Valero’s Japanese handler, Akihiko Honda, had initially balked, though, at pitting his ward against the Filipino ring icon within the year.
Pacquiao also wants to take on Valero, whom he said had disposed of only “tricycle drivers.”
If the fight pushes through, however, it’s likely to be held in Macau as the Venezuelan star is still banned from fighting in the United States for medical reasons.
Arum bared that a new arena at the Venetian in Macau, which can accommodate up to 17,000 fans, would be ready to stage the fight by September.
For Barrera to bolster his bid for a rematch with Pacquiao, Arum said the future Hall of Famer needs to present proof that he no longer has a contract with the Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar De La Hoya.
Barrera was halted by Pacquiao in the 11th round in San Antonio, Texas, in November 2003.
As for Soto, he would need to prove his worth against Bobby Pacquiao first, according to Arum.
