While the hunt for Manny Pacquiao?s next opponent is still on, a key figure in the fighter?s camp disclosed yesterday that Humberto Soto has the inside track for the proposed Nov. 8 clash with the Filipino star since he is far more popular than the original pick from Venezuela.
“As of this this time, I can say that it?s more than 90 percent that it?s going to be Soto,” said lawyer Franklin Gacal.
Gacal said Soto has everything that Edwin Valero doesn?t. “Soto is Mexican and the Mexicans are expected to root for him when he fights Pacquiao, while Valero has no fan base,” said Gacal.
One more thing, Gacal, pointed out.
“Manny wants to exact payback,” said Gacal, referring to the seventh-round knockout suffered by Manny?s younger brother at the hands of the hard-hitting Soto last year at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“Manny has been aching to get his hands on Soto ever since that night in New York.”
Pacquiao, now the World Boxing Council lightweight king, was so incensed that he is willing to rumble with Soto ? nicknamed La Zorrita (Little Fox) ? even for free after watching his brother land on the canvas.
Gacal returned yesterday from Canada where he?s trying to work on a deal to deploy skilled Filipino workers to foreign land.
Just before he boarded the plane bound for Manila, Gacal said he spoke with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum on the phone.
“He told me about the Soto fight in November,” said Gacal who did not elaborate.
Gacal, however, was quick to add that “Manny is willing to face anybody.” Ringsiders believe that the surprisingly low numbers generated in the pay-per-view of Pacquiao?s recent fight with David Diaz is an indication that picking a no-name puncher like Valero will again result in a disaster in the box-office and pay-per-view as well.
While Valero is the reigning World Boxing Association super-featherweight champion and the holder of an imposing 24-0 win-loss record with 24 knockouts, he doesn?t have a huge following in the sport.
His difficulty to fight in the US (except in Texas) also makes him an unattractive choice as Pacquiao?s next opponent.
