The next good fight for Manny Pacquiao is the one against David Diaz.
According to boxing expert Wakee Salud, it would be more practical for Pacquiao to fight Diaz than face super-featherweight champions Juan Manuel Marquez of the WBC or Edwin Valero of the WBA.
Diaz, a Mexican-American, is the reigning WBC lightweight champion, meaning Pacquiao must move up a division higher, from 130 to 135 lbs, to get a crack at the former three-time Golden Gloves champion.
Marquez and Valero both have ties with Golden Boy Promotions while Diaz, who fought 175 fights as an amateur and now has a pro record of 33 wins (17 knockouts), a loss and a draw, is with Top Rank Promotions.
Pacquiao is also with Top Rank.
?Pacquiao will get more facing Diaz than facing either Marquez or Valero. A promotion between Golden Boy and Top Rank leaves less for Manny,? said Salud, one of Pacquiao?s closest business associates.
?First, Marquez is asking too much to defend his title against Pacquiao who is the main draw. Masyado malaki. So, Manny will certainly get more against Diaz. Kaya niya solohin lahat,? added Salud.
Also calling out Pacquiao?s name are WBA-WBO-IBF lightweight champion Juan Diaz, and Joel Casamayor.
Pacquiao yesterday said in Cebu that he?s willing to face any of these fighters ?if the price is right.?
After beating Marco Antonio Barrera last week at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Pacquiao bared plans of moving up to the lightweight class and take a crack at Diaz, saying there?s already difficulty for him making 130 lbs.
But before flying back to Manila last Tuesday, Pacquiao said he has decided to remain as a super-featherweight and face the challenge hurled by Barrera who said the only boxer capable of beating Pacquiao right now is Valero.
How much Pacquiao made for facing Barrera in the rematch remains undisclosed, although insiders believe the Filipino made much more when he faced Erik Morales, who is also under Top Rank, in a great trilogy.
Valero came to see the Pacquiao-Barrera fight, and shortly after said he wasn?t impressed with the Filipino?s performance, saying he was ?all speed with no power.? He seemed ready to take on Pacquiao anytime, anywhere.
