LOS ANGELES ? Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Boy is hot for a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Bob Arum of Top Rank is not.
After last Saturday?s fight, where Pacquiao sent Marco Antonio Barrera packing in Las Vegas, Dela Hoya pushed for another Golden Boy-Top Rank promotion, this time featuring Pacquiao and Marquez.
?Pacquiao has been going through Mexican fighters,? said the former Olympic champion of Pacquiao who has swept his last six fights against five Mexicans, knocking out four of them.
?But we still have one for you,? added Dela Hoya, looking at Arum?s direction. ?And his initials are JMM. He is Juan Manuel Marquez.?
Pacquiao and his entourage are scheduled to arrive early today and will
make a courtesy call on long-time benefactor Environment Secretary Lito Atienza at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) offices in Quezon City.
An earlier plan to hold a motorcade in Manila was shelved after Pacquiao informed Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim of his previous commitment with the DENR chief.
Atienza will later bring Pacquiao to the Malaca?ang Palace for a separate courtesy call on President Arroyo.
Marquez, 34, is the reigning World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion who is under Golden Boy. He met Pacquiao in 2004 and the two fighters figured in a very controversial draw.
Many are hoping that the two fighters get to face each other in a rematch, and Dela Hoya wants it soon.
Arum, however, was not ready to bite.
?Don?t count your chickens,? he said, reminding Dela Hoya that Marquez is not in a sure-win situation when he takes on Rocky Juarez next month in Arizona.
?Yes, I know that it?s going to be a tough fight,? said the Golden Boy honcho.
If Marquez loses his crown, Pacquiao might just go after Juarez.
Pacquiao is also looking at David Diaz, the WBC lightweight champion. Both fighters are under Top Rank, and Arum, it seems, would rather see a title fight between boxers of his own.
Others in the line, hoping for a big paycheck by facing Pacquiao are Humberto Soto (Top Rank), Joan Guzman and Edwin Valero (both have ties with Golden Boy).
Pacquiao said he might go up the lightweight division (135 lbs) and face Diaz right away. For the Barrera fight (super-featherweight at 130 lbs), the Filipino had trouble making the weight.
But he said he can still manage.
?I think I can handle both divisions. I can still fight at 130 or fight at 135. It depends on the negotiations. We all have to talk about it,? he said.
Golden Boy and Top Rank, which became bitter rivals in the past, smoked the peace pipe three months ago, and set the stage for the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch.
