AKIHIKO HONDA, the Japanese boxing promoter who funded Mike Tyson?s bouts with Tony Tucker and Buster Douglas in the 1990s, is more than willing to pit Manny Pacquiao against Venezuelan Edwin Valero, the current World Boxing Association (WBA) super-featherweight champion.
Honda, who is attending the ongoing 45th World Boxing Council (WBC) convention, said that he has what it takes to put up a slambang southpaw slugfest between Pacquiao and Valero, who is based in Tokyo.
Asked if Honda is amenable to pay a multi-million paycheck to the Filipino lefty, Honda answered in the affirmative.
“Valero wants Pacquiao,” said Honda, who heads Teiken Promotions, which also includes a stable that includes, besides Valero, Venezuelan Jorge Linares, the reigning WBC featherweight titlist, and Nicaraguan minimumweight Chocolatito Gonzalez.
“I hope we can see Valero and Pacquiao fight next year,” said Honda, who also has close promotional and diplomatic ties with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) and even Top Rank, which promotes Pacquiao.
While Valero?s name is not high on the list being eyed to face Pacquiao on March 15, 2008, Honda ? without him probably realizing it ? came up with a statement that could lead to a much-awaited clash between the pair of punchers.
Asked if how much money is needed to convince Valero to sign up for a fight in another promotion, Honda said “about $ 800,000.”
Although Valero is slated to defend against Juan Carlos Salgado of Mexico in Cancun on Dec. 15, Honda is obviously confident that the 25-year-old Valero will retain the crown and target Pacquiao next.
Valero has established a cult following the past few years owing to his punching power that has given him 22 straight wins all by knockout, including 18 straight stoppage victories in the first round.
