ONE of the many unanswered questions regarding Manny Pacquiao?s next fight will be settled in the weekend.
Potential Pacquiao foes Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic and Humberto Soto of Mexico square off Saturday in a bout that will help determine the next foe of the Filipino boxing sensation.
The two fighters are hoping to score a resounding win to take the limelight from Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, the current World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight champion, touted as the top challenger of Pacquiao.
The Guzman-Soto 12-round bout will be held at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It will be shown locally via Solar Sports.
Guzman, 31, is undefeated in 27 fights and has scored 17 knockouts during his 10-year career. He won the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight crown in 2002 and defended it twice.
Guzman will be defending his WBO super-featherweight crown against Soto, a title he won on September 16, 2006 by scoring a 12-round split decision over Brazilian Jorge Barrios in a bout held at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.
?I am anxious and ready to get in the ring. I am very happy and excited and it?s my time now. Soto is in the same position as me,? said Guzman in yesterday?s press conference at the Old Homestead Restaurant in New York. ?He?s coming up like I am looking for the big fights. We hold the key for each other.?
Soto, 27, (43-5-2, 27 KOs) instantly became a potential Pacquiao rival after the Mexican dealt Pacquiao?s younger brother Bobby a humiliating seventh-round knockout last June at the Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York. The older Pacquiao witnessed that fight at ringside.
?Guzman is a great fighter. He has lot of skills and as far as I am concerned, he?s maybe the best 130-lb fighter out there,? said Soto in the same presser ?I love challenge and that?s why I took this fight. I want to be world champion.?
Soto also came out as the top Mexican fighter capable of beating Pacquiao based on an online poll conducted by a Mexican web site. Soto garnered 51 percent of a poll that saw 15,000 respondents. Marquez was a far third with a measly 2.5 percent.
Marquez, 34, is the constant favorite as Pacquiao?s next opponent as both fighters need to settle their 12-round draw held last May 2004, also at the MGM Grand Garden.
Top Rank Inc. is reportedly pushing for a bout with WBC lightweight champion David Diaz. The Mexican-American Diaz is fighting under Arum?s outfit. Soto, just like Diaz, is a Top Rank fighter, while Guzman campaigns under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.
A March 15, 2008 date has been reserved with HBO for Pacquiao?s next outing.
