Los Angeles – Remember weeks ago when Humberto Soto signed with Top Rank?
Turns out that Humberto Soto not only signed with Top Rank, but he might have won the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.
In a very public discourse, using Filipino and American internet media outlets, Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank do not seem to be on the same wave length regarding a rematch between Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. Each promotion has set their own timeline for a deal to be completed, and in actuality, Richard Scahefer’s imposed deadline of January 1st is clicking away.
Schaefer, the C.E.O. of Golden Boy Promotions, was not available for comment at his Los Angeles office today.
In return, Bob Arum has stated to Greg Leon, of Boxing Talk, that Golden Boy and Barrera have until January 12th to get there acts together and make a fight happen against Pacquiao.
Pacquiao v. Barrera II is good for boxing, fans want this fight and it would be an incredible event. But then again, this again this is boxing and when do the fans ever get their need met?
Knowing the bitter rivalry that has developed between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, along with the very personal conflict surrounding Pacquiao, I am putting my money on the following outcome…the fight ain’t happening folks.
So then, where does that leave Barrera and Pacquiao?
Reports have repeatedly mentioned a bout between Barrera and fellow Mexico City native Juan Manuel Marquez. Two big problems with a Barrera v. Marquez bout, aside from it being destined to be a boring fight between to technically sound fighters.
One. Though Schaefer informed Boxing Confidential last week that he had presented the bout to Jaime Quintana (Marquez’s co-promoter, with Romanza Promotions), Marquez’s manager, the always tough Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, has informed Boxing Confidential, on several occasions, that no one has presented a Marquez vs. Barrera bout to him. If we know anything, Beristain calls the shots regarding the Marquez brothers.
Though called several times, Quintana has not been available for comment. Seems like I am the only fool working on New Year’s Day.
Two, if Marquez were to fight Barrera, would the W.B.C. strip Barrera of the W.B.C. Super Featherweight Champion? Manny Pacquiao is the number one contender to the championship and the W.B.C. ordered a purse bid late last year, which it then suspended due to the promotional chaos surrounding Pacquiao.
It will be interesting to see who has more weight with W.B.C. boss Jose Sulaiman, Arum or Schaefer and De La Hoya?
Will Mr. Sulaiman give Barrera v. Marquez his blessing? Or will Sulaiman side with Arum?
By the way, Arum refused to pay the W.B.C. sanctioning fee to make Erik Morale’s fight with Pacquiao a W.B.C. eliminatory bout. Oops, bad move Bob, those thousands of dollars saved could have helped you in this struggle.
If Arum does win the backroom struggle, after all Barrera has never made a mandatory defense, and Sulaiman strips Barrera of the W.B.C. crown, Manny Pacquiao would then likely be ordered to fight the number two contender to the W.B.C. Super Featherweight Championship, who is none other than, yup, you guessed it…Humbero Soto.
Keep your score card close and fingers crossed Humberto, your exciting rock and sock ‘em style might be pitted against the pride of General Santos City!
