Thursday, June 28, 2007 No news on Pacquiao foe yet; Barrera rematch still possible
AFTER promsing to announce Manny Pacquiao’s next fight this week, nothing came out of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
However, following the orders of Judge Daniel Westein for mediation, the possibility of skipping an Oct. 6 fight with Mexican Humberto Soto for a mega-buck rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera has risen from the ashes.
“That could be. That’s where the big money is. But honestly, I don’t have any idea on what is going on now. Soto could be Manny’s next opponent because he is the only fighter that Top Rank can offer. I prefer to stay away from it because I have been blamed for all this mess, when in fact I never earned a single centavo from anybody or from Manny.
I am tired and sick of all this antics, where other people have profited I, on the other hand, was left with all the blames,” Pacquiao’s confidant and business partner Rex “Wakee” Salud told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Pacquiao rose to boxing’s elite ranks when he pummeled the Mexican legend in 11 rounds in November 2003. Since then, he has also fought with Juan Manuel Marquez once and thrice with Erik Morales, winning twice.
Barrera also said he will just retire if he can not get a rematch with Pacquiao.
Cebuano promoter Sammy Gello-ani, an openly known ally of the Golden Boy, however, doubted Pacquiao may end up at their side.
“Manny has a lot of troubles with him and when he is with Golden Boy, he’ll probably be bringing in more troubles. But I admit it, a Pacquiao-Barrera rematch is an attraction but it needs a mutual agreement from both parties,” said Gello-ani.
With the ongoing litigation of the case plus the new suit filed by Pacquiao’s former manager Shelly Finkel in New York, it will be hard for the Filipino ring wonder to book a fight in the US without the consent of the Golden Boy Promotions.
Earlier reports announced Pacquiao is set to fight Soto in Vancouver, Canada on Oct. 6.
However, this may not push through as Arum seems to be softening his stand in the promotional fight with Oscar dela Hoya. (RCM)
