LOS ANGELES-Manny Pacquiao doesn’t mind whether his next opponent will either be Joel Casamayor, Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera and he doesn’t care whoever goes first in the short chopping board list.
Pacquiao, who has endorsed the “No Fear” sporting apparel, exactly lives by that attitude.
“I don’t fear anyone, bring them all to me,” said Pacquiao, on the eve of his first training day under trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood.
Pacquiao, along with his younger brother Bobby and promising Z Gorres, start serious training and begin with the roadwork in the streets of Hollywood and the hills of Griffith Park Monday, each one hoping to get into shape for a possible November fight. Also training at the gym are compatriots Gerry Balagbagan, Orlando Villaflor and Brian Viloria.
Several reports indicated that the proposed Morales-Barrera rubber match has been stalled and Casamayor’s name has been added into the fray, making for another round of wheeling and dealing among opposing managerial and promotional outfits.
The three names belong to boxing’s most revered list. Kahit sino,” said Pacquiao, who also indicated that he is willing to step up in weight just to meet either Casamayor or Morales, who campaign in the super-featherweight division.
“I still like to face Morales more than anyone. A rematch with Barrera is also just fine,” said Pacquiao, who admitted that he did not know much about Casamayor.
Team Pacquiao business manager Rod Nazario and Roach have sounded their disapproval in separate interviews regarding the prospect of facing the 33-year-old Casamayor, a former world champion.
Nazario said that a fight with Morales is the best option as the Mexican promises to be a huge draw especially when he gets to face Pacquiao, who now has a huge and loyal fan-base in the US.
Moreover, Nazario noted that just like Pacquiao, Morales started out from the ranks of super-bantamweights, not unlike Casamayor, who has consistently campaigned in the 130-pound division and even in the lightweight class.
Roach simply dismissed the idea of fighting Casamayor as too sudden and absurd.
“I do not want to make suggestions because it isn’t part of my job (to look for Pacquiao’s next opponent),” said the highly-respected trainer Roach.
Meanwhile, Murad Muhammad, who was supposed to meet with Nazario over the weekend in Orlando, Florida to discuss plans for Pacquiao’s next fight, said that Filipino ring idol should concentrate on his training as changes could happen overnight.
“Manny should be in training and he should be ready anytime soon,” said Muhammad, who promised to make another miracle to happen.
Pacquiao is getting bored each passing day as recent negotiations have turned on again-off again as in the case of Barrera and Morales.
