LAS VEGAS—“Line them up,” said Manny Pacquiao on Monday morning as he was preparing to leave for Los Angeles following his smashing knockout win over Erik Morales of Mexico.
Pacquiao was obviously referring to those who are bold enough to challenge him in a duel.
While he did not name names, Pacquiao directed the statement to Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, the only remaining Mexicans who could give Pacquiao some trouble.
“Kahit sino sa kanila, walang problema sa akin,” said Pacquiao at the lobby of the Wynn Las Vegas, surrounded by his close associates led by Cebu boxing impresario Wakee Salud.
Barrera had earlier called for the winner of the Pacquiao-Morales showdown to meet him on March 25.
But it is doubtful that such a clash would take place since Pacquiao is coming off a bruising bout with Morales.
Marquez, who battled Pacquiao to a thrilling 12-round split draw in May 2004, won’t likely be available to fight in May or June since he is defending the World Boxing Association featherweight crown against Chris John of Indonesia in late-March.
Barrera is also penciled to fight on the same month probably against Jesus Chavez.
Still, Pacquiao insists he will inflict Barrera a second beating in the event they meet again. Barrera was mauled by Pacquiao in Nov. 2003 in San Antonio, Texas. The fate of Morales hangs in the air, but one keen observer of the fight game, Salud, believes the Tijuana native, has had enough and might consider hanging up his gloves.
“Sa tingin ko mag-reretire na si Morales,” said Salud, after seeing what Pacquiao did to his face. ‘Badly beaten, talaga.”
Morales, 29, is giving himself at least two weeks to think things over. He is already back in Tijuana, where he intends to consult with his family members and promotional outfit Top Rank to decide on his future.
For the meantime, Pacquiao has the luxury of time on his side since he is not expected to get back on the ring until May or June.
While on a ‘holiday’, Pacquiao plans to bring his wife and two kids, Emmanuel Jr. and Michael Stephen, to Disneyland in Anaheim in March or April at round the time when his younger brother Bobby is going to make his much-awaited comeback.
