LAS VEGAS ? The question on everyone?s lips following Manny Pacquiao?s first-rate performance over the weekend is who will be the man who will stand in his way the next time he gets up the ring on Nov. 8.
Intrigued by the information, Pacquiao called up Top Rank chief Bob Arum at around noontime to know what the Hall of Fame promoter is cooking up as Wakee Salud, a close ally of Pacquiao, disclosed that Edwin Valero of Venezuela is not in the equation.
Shortly after Pacquiao mauled David Diaz, Arum spoke with a handful of scribes, telling them about the possibility of Pacquiao squaring off with Valero here or somewhere in Texas.
Salud claimed that he spoke with Valero?s promoter Akihiko Honda and the Japanese boxing man was not too keen in letting his prized ward tangle with Pacquiao.
But the Bulletin confirmed Arum?s plans of pairing the two southpaws in a surefire shootout at 135 lbs when Honda confirming that “Valero will follow Pacquiao at lightweight.”
“Valero?” Pacquiao said over the phone during the brief conversation with Arum.
Still, Pacquiao said nothing is signed as of the moment and that negotiations will have to be made in the coming weeks.
Arum should discuss Pacquiao?s next fight sometime in the fourth week of July when Pacquiao attends the much-awaited duel between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito at the MGM Grand.
Honda said Valero, who is vacationing in Venezuela right now, would already be here by that time and will likely show up during the fight.
“Valero will arrive here on July 15 to start training for his next fight,” said Honda.
Kenny Adams, a resident of Las Vegas, now trains Valero.
The 26-year-old Valero, holder of a 24-0 win-loss card ? all by knockout ? is the reigning World Boxing Association super-feather champion and is eyeing a lucrative deal against Pacquiao.
Other than Valero, being eyed is British 140-pounder Ricky Hatton.
One of Hatton?s trainers, Lee Beard, paid a visit to Pacquiao?s lair and even watched the DVD replay of the Diaz fight and drooled over the prospects of seeing Hatton and Pacquiao lock horns.
