Promoter Bob Arum may have been successful in goading Manny Pacquiao to face Mexican Humberto Soto next. But for thousands of Pacquiao fans, a bout with Soto is still one of the least fights they want to see once their boxing idol steps into the ring sometime soon.
In an ongoing poll conducted by Pacquiao’s widely-visited Pacland web site, only 2.5 percent out of not less than 13,000 distinct Web voters expressed interest in seeing the Pacquiao-Soto happen.
This despite Soto’s dominating win over Pacquiao’s younger brother Bobby whom the Mexican stopped in the seventh round the other day at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
Still on top of that survey is World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez with 61.6 percent.
The 33-year-old Marquez is regarded by many as one of few fighters who has the skills and courage to give the Filipino superstar a run for his money.
May of 2004, Marquez, who was then defending his World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight belts, came back from three knockdowns to salvage a draw in his 12-round battle with Pacquiao, then regarded as the division’s Peoples Champion.
Closely contesting the second spot but are miles away from the front-running Marquez are Marco Antonio Barrera, Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic and Edwin Valero of Venezuela.
The 33-year-old Barrera, a three-division world champion, is slightly ahead of Valero and Guzman with 12.4 percent.
Barrera, who lost the WBC crown to Marquez via 12-round verdict last March, is raring to avenge his defeat to Pacquiao and wants the Filipino fighter to be his last opponent before ending his illustrious career.
Back in November 2003, Barrera took a sound beating from Pacquiao as the then heavy underdog Filipino challenger battered the proud Mexican for 11 one-sided rounds at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The 27-year-old Valero, the reigning WBA 130-lb king is closely trailing Barrera with 11.2 percent while the 31-year-old Guzman, holder of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt garnered 10.9 percent.
Like Pacquiao, the undefeated Valero (22-0, 22 knockouts) is a heavy-fisted southpaw while Guzman (27-0, 17 knockouts) is called Little Tyson also because of his devastating punching power.
Despite Soto’s unimpressive ranking in Pacquiao’s web site, all he really needs is the approval of two men capable of making his dream fight a reality and these are Arum and Pacquiao himself.
It’s already given that Arum being the promoter of Soto will push for the Pacquiao fight.
Soto is also now on the radar of Pacquiao soon after the Mexican pummeled the Filipino warrior’s younger brother Bobby.
Fight promoter Wakee Salud recently told BusinessMirror that Pacquiao was already talking about revenge while chatting with some Filipinos who were with him during the New York card.
This time, Pacquiao is said to be very vocal in wanting to get Soto as his next opponent either in September 15 or October 6, two dates proposed by Arum.
Soto, ranked second in the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight ladder, fights under Arum’s Top Rank Inc., the same entity currently recognized by Pacquiao as his American promoter.
Pacquiao’s future schedule remains hazy as the Filipino also signed the dotted line in a similar promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) sometime last year.
The court hearing the case has scheduled a face-off with the warring outfits and work on a possible settlement, hoping to avoid what could possibly be a dragging litigation.
The proposed settlement is the biggest stumbling block for Soto especially if GBP executives will agree to work with Arum.
All of Pacquiao’s biggest foes are handled by GBP, namely Marquez, Guzman and Barrera.
Arum, meanwhile, remains open to a copromotional deal with GBP despite the nearly dozen lawsuits they both filed against each other in two separate courts.
Pacquiao’s legal team is finding ways to postpone the scheduled deposition of the Filipino fighter this Thursday (Manila time).
A source privy to the legal battle said the popular boxer wants it moved to a later date. Pacquiao reportedly wants to fly back to Manila immediately along with his wife and two kids.
The celebrated Pacquiao family had a much-needed holiday in Orlando, Florida, a week before they watched his brother Bobby’s knockout loss to Soto.
The same source disclosed that GBP has tapped the services of top boxing lawyer Judd Burstein to work with the entity owned by boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya.
Burstein is the same lawyer who led Pacquiao’s victorious promotional split-up from former American promoter Murad Muhammad three years ago. Top Rank is led by another big time lawyer Daniel Petrocelli.
