IT ALL goes down to the decision of Filipino ring superstar Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao on who his next opponents will be in 2009.
According to Top Rank big boss Bob Arum, who promotes the 29-year-old General Santos native, Pacquiao has two options in his next fight. He could have a mega-fight with two of the biggest names of today, Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton and ?Pretty Boy? Floyd Mayweather Jr., or a big fight with talented junior welterweights.
Down the line
?The question is, ?Does Manny want a mega-fight in his next fight or does he want a really good big fight?? There are only two guys to do a mega-fight with: Hatton and Mayweather.
There are a number of guys who you could do big fights with, but aren?t quite the status of a mega-fight. One is Zab Judah, and of course down the line (Kendall) Holt is fighting Demetrius Hopkins, the winner fights (Timothy) Bradley. Whoever comes out of those fights would certainly be a good opponent for Manny,? said Arum in an interview by Boxing Talk.
Arum also revealed that Pacquiao will not be fighting anymore as a welterweight, but will be residing at the junior welterweight class.
?One thing is for sure, Manny is going to be fighting at 140 pounds from now on,? said the famed promoter. ?He will not compete at 147,? he added.
Date
Arum?s proposed date for Pacquiao?s next bout will be either on May 2 or 9.
Arum will be flying to the Philippines to attend the World Boxing Council lightweight champion?s 30th birthday today.
On the eve of Pacquiao?s birthday, he was presented with a boxing event dubbed ?Handog sa Birthday ni Pacman,? which was headed by the bouts of Cebuano fighter Roel Laguna versus Bukidnon combatant Jake Verano, undefeated warrior Rodulfo Sumambong versus Richard Olisa, Romart Sentillas versus Jetly Purisima and a special bout between up and rising young boxer Jether Oliva and veteran journeyman Jun Eballe for the Mindanao Professional Boxing Federation title.
