A possible rematch between Manny Pacquiao versus another Mexican, reigning WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, may no longer push through as boxing fans hoping to see in the future.
Wakee Salud, a long-time confidant of the Filipino ring sensation, revealed on Sunday a plan for Pacquiao to face the winner of IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz and undefeated WBA/WBO Juan Diaz on October 13.
?I have talked to Bob Arum and he is expecting Manny to face next the winner of Julio Diaz and Juan Diaz. Manny wants to move to lightweight division,? said Salud told radio DZBB after Pacquiao?s unanimous decision victory against Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas.
Salud said Arum, head of Top Rank which promotes Pacquiao?s fights, felt the Filipino ring icon is gaining weight and it would be hard for him to stay at super featherweight division.
Before his rematch with Barrera, Pacquiao reportedly admitted to his wife, Jinky, that he got hard time to meet the 130-lb limit.
A lot of boxing experts, including his famous American trainer Freddie Roach, have noticed the drawn and drained Pacquiao during the last Saturday?s weigh-in.
Pacquiao has been reportedly skipped dinner the night before the official weigh-in to drain three more pounds extra weight.
?There was an eerie silence when Pacquiao stepped slowly, gingerly like an apparition, onto the weighing scales. ?(Pacquiao) encountered his first major weight obstacle since hitting it big-time,? said boxing analyst Ricah Trinidad.
At the height of his preparation against Barrera, Pacquiao has already revealed to a group of sports reporters his plan to move to lightweight division and may skip possible rematch with Marquez.
Pacquiao, now toting 45-5-2 with 35 knockouts after his second straight win against Barrera, knocked down Marquez three times on May 8, 2004 in a fight that ended in controversial draw.
Except for Marquez, Pacquiao has already defeated big names in super featherweight mostly Mexicans, including Erik Morales, Barrera and Oscar Larios.
Pacquiao started his successful boxing career as 106-lb campaigner in 1995, winning 10 fights in the same year.
The pride of General Santos City won his first title, OPBF flyweight (112-lb), against Thai Chokchai Chockvivat on Sept. 13, 1997 and first world title, WBC flyweight, versus another Thai Chatchai Sasakul on December 4, 1998.
Pacquiao had impressive US debut in June 23, 2001 when he knocked out South African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba to capture IBF super bantamweight (122-lb) crown.
Five months later, Pacquiao had another successful US fight as he dethroned Agapito Sanchez of Dominican Republic to unify the IBF and WBA super bantamweight crowns.
