Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao said he has no problem facing Mexican Humberto Soto, who is currently being groomed as his next opponent.
Pacquiao, the reigning WBC lightweight champion, said he is looking forward to beating Soto who knocked out his brother Bobby during a match in Madison Square Garden in 2007.
“Okay lang naman kung si Soto lalo na?t tinalo niya yung kapatid kong si Bobby (It?s okay that I fight Soto, especially since he beat my brother Bobby),” said Pacquiao.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said he is planning to hold the fight on November 8 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
“Soto is confirmed pending my meeting with Manny here in the USA next week. Manny has the final choice but Soto is available,” said Arum.
He added that a fight between Soto and Pacquiao could be very appealing to boxing fans since it will renew the boxing rivalry between Mexicans and Filipinos.
“I believe he’s more appealing because he’s Mexican. And Soto is a very tough-tough man,” said Arum.
Pacquiao was supposed to fight knock out artist Edwin Valero, who holds the WBA super featherweight crown. The Venezuelan fighter, however, would still have to secure his medical clearance to earn a boxing license in the US.
Pacman to decide on belts
The WBC, meanwhile, has given Pacquiao only until July 28 to decide which belt he intends to keep.
Pacquiao won the WBC super-featherweight crown by beating Juan Manuel Marquez last March, then without defending the title he decided to move up in weight.
Then he took the WBC lightweight title from David Diaz last month, and technically became a champion of two divisions.
Now, he has to decide which one to relinquish, which one to keep.
“The present double WBC world champion at lightweight and super featherweight, Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, must announce by July 28 which title he has decided to keep,” the WBC said.
Jose Sulaiman, the WBC chief, said if Pacquiao decides to relinquish the lightweight title, then he should defend the super-featherweight crown against Humberto Soto in his next fight.
But that?s unlikely to happen because Pacquiao is bent on leaving the super-featherweight division, since he?s already having great difficulty making 130 lbs,
He said he feels more comfortable at 135 lbs, and in fact has dared anybody to challenge him for the crown. With a report from Dyan Castillejo and the Philippine Star
