The week up ahead will provide Manny Pacquiao and his legions of fans a much clearer picture of the Filipino superstar?s next move on the ring.
Pacquiao, the hottest boxer in the planet today, leaves for the US on Thursday for what could be a series of meetings with his promoter Bob Arum, trainer Freddie Roach and those representing any of his possible opponents.
Pacquiao leaves with his legal counsel Jeng Gacal and business manager Eric Pineda. The boxer?s wife and a couple more of their friends will join the US trip that may last no more than nine days.
On Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Pacquiao and his group will be in Las Vegas to watch the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito fight.
In Vegas, Pacquiao hooks up with Arum to discuss the strong possibility of a dream fight with Oscar dela Hoya on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand. It could be the Golden Boy?s last fight.
Arum, the legendary Top Rank president, is quietly working hard for the fight to push through. Otherwise, Pacquiao may probably end up facing someone else by November.
A fight with Dela Hoya should be the biggest fight in Pacquiao?s career, one which, reports said, could fetch as much as $20 million (or pretty close to a billion pesos) for the Pinoy icon.
Last week, Pacquiao was busy attending to the victims of Typhoon ?Frank,? which hit the country days before he demolished David Diaz in Las Vegas for the WBC lightweight crown.
But since Saturday, the 29-year-old has been in Manila for both business and pleasure. Yesterday, he played golf at Wack Wack with buddies Jake Joson, Lito Camo and Pineda.
Last night, he was to attend a belated victory party hosted by close friend Luis ?Chavit? Singson in the latter?s Corinthian Gardens residence.
Pacquiao can?t stay long in the US and, according to Pineda, should be back in Manila on the first day of August. Then on Aug. 6 or 7, he flies to Beijing where he will carry the RP flag during the Olympic opener.
By that time he should be thinking about his next opponent.
