Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, who is now in LA to shoot a Nike commercial, will announce this week who he faces next in March next year.
The Pacquiao sweepstakes is now limited to WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez ( 43-3-1 35 KO’s), WBO champion Joan Guzman, lightweight king David Diaz and Oscar dela Hoya.
And, based on Freddie Roach’s latest statements and the online poll at Mannypacquiao.ph, Marquez seems to be leading the derby.
“I think so yes, with the guarantees and the PPV numbers, he’s (Marquez) bigger than Diaz, Guzman, and Casamayor” Roach told boxingtalk.com when asked about Marquez’s being the frontrunner among the other fighters who want to face Pacquiao.
Rematch
“It’s the most logical; we fought to a draw last time. If we don’t fight Marquez next we could move up to 135 pounds and fight David Diaz. People want to see the Marquez rematch, and Pacquiao wants to fight the best guys out there. Manny will be in town tomorrow night to meet with Nike. His brother Bobby fights on Friday, and Bob Arum will be there, so we will work out everything on Saturday” said Roach.
That statement is sure to please the 56.9 percent of 19,350 fans who voted the for a Pacquiao-Marquez rematch in an online poll at www.mannypacquiao.ph.
If the Marquez rematch falls, Roach says lightweight champion Juan Diaz, could be the next foe.
“No he’s (Juan Diaz) not out, definitely not. We are just negotiating, and Manny said to get the fight that makes the most sense, and the most money. It’s definitely a possibility that Juan Diaz is next,” Roach said.
As for the talks on a fight between dela Hoya and Pacquiao, whom he both trains.
“When people ask me about it, I just tell them that when it’s realistic we’ll talk about it. The size difference between the two guys is too much. Personally I don’t think the fight will ever happen. They asked Oscar about the fight on television and he didn’t say no. I just don’t see it. There is too much size difference between the two guys,” Roach said.
Dela Hoya started his career at 130 pounds but now fights at the super welterweight division (150 pounds), while Pacquiao fights at the super featherweight division (130 pounds) and is mulling a move to lightweight.
Meanwhile, Bob Arum isn’t as dismissive of the idea as Roach is.
Arum said the concept of the fight is not new and that a lot of fighters move up in weight all the time.
“Manny Pacquiao brings a lot to the table against Oscar. He has the speed, a good punch, he takes a good punch. He may be outsized by dela Hoya but remember when he fought Barrera he went into the ring at 144 pounds. So it is not out of the question. Certainly not,” Arum told Philboxing.com
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will join an elite group of athletes after being chosen to star in a Nike Commercial.
“Nike is doing a commercial on training, and they picked their top 10 athletes in the world. Manny was one of the athletes that they picked. I will be closing the gym for the first time in 12 years for a commercial shoot. I am only doing this for Pacquiao” said Roach. (EKA)
