For his next fight, which should come three or four months from now, Manny Pacquiao is looking for the most attractive fight possible, whether it?s in the super-featherweight or lightweight division.
From his posh La Palazzo apartment near Beverly Hills, Pacquiao said yesterday morning (Manila time) nothing is final yet regarding his next fight, and that everything should depend on the negotiations.
?Wala pang final (Nothing is final). Madami pang negotiations ?yan (There will be negotiations),? said Pacquiao, all set to leave Los Angeles Saturday and come home to a hero?s welcome in Manila on Monday.
Pacquiao mentioned the name of Edwin Valero, the undefeated knockout specialist and the WBA super-featherweight champion from Venezuela as one that could create and provide a very attractive fight.
?Attractive sana kung si Valero ang kalaban (It would be attractive if Valero is the opponent). Pero ang problema hindi siya makalaban sa US (But the problem is he can?t fight in the US),? said Pacquiao.
Valero is banned from fighting in the US after he failed a medical a few years back due to a head injury sustained in a motorcycle accident.
A couple of times he has called out Pacquiao?s name, even going to the extent of saying he?d knock him out. All of Valero?s 23 wins came by knockout, 19 of them, including the first 18, in the first round.
Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez after 12 brutal rounds last week in Las Vegas, and will come home wearing three belts in the super-featherweight class ? the WBC, Ring and WBC International.
An immediate rematch with Marquez, one that could catch the Pinoy superstar a guaranteed purse as low as $6 million to as high as $10 million, was laid down on the table, but was immediately pushed aside.
Pacquiao?s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, said it?s not a very good idea to stage an immediate rematch, adding that it would be better for both boxers to get ?some air? by fighting different foes in June, July or August.
Pacquiao is being lined up for a shot at the WBC lightweight crown being held by David Diaz as soon as his condition permits. Both Pacquiao and Marquez suffered huge cuts that would take six to eight weeks to heal.
As to Diaz, Pacquiao said, ?Hindi pa final.?
Arum said Marquez, who plans to return to the ring in September or October, should keep busy, go out and fight and not just ?sit around? as the Filipino champion in three different weight classes moves up.
Arum said Marquez, not getting any younger at 34, can fight Valero or WBO super-featherweight champion Juan Guzman of the Dominican Republic. Or both.
?What Marquez should do is to fight Guzman, fight Valero or fight them both. Look, it?s not like the rest of the 130-pounders are all tomato cans. I?d say that Marquez against Guzman is a good matchup of styles and I can say the same thing for Valero against Marquez,? Arum told boxingconfidential.com.
Before fighting Marquez, the Pacquiao camp said it was to be his last at 130 lbs. But it seems that the Pinoy slugger can still make it as a super-featherweight, comfortably weighing in at 129 lbs (a pound off the limit) on the eve of the fight.
