Wednesday, March 26, 2008 'At right price,' Pacman to fight Casamayor
NEW World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao is willing to face World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim Lightweight champion Joel Casamayor in the ring “if the price is right.”
“Why not as long as the price is right,” said Pacquiao during his courtesy call to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang last Monday in reaction to the challenge of the Cuban boxer.
Casamayor was stripped off his WBC interim Lightweight belt in 2006 after he faced off with Michael Katsidis of the WBO. The WBC Lightweight belt later went to David Diaz who is expected to face Pacquiao in June this year.
Casamayor recently scored a 10th round KO on Katisidis. The 36-year-old Cuban called on Pacquiao and shunned a rematch with Nate Campbell, who took Juan Diaz’s IBF, WBA and WBO belts.
“I’ve already beaten Nate Campbell (back in a non-title fight in 2003) and I did it on just three weeks of training. Now I want to fight other guys, like Pacquiao or (Marco Antonio) Barrera,” said the Cuban.
Pacquiao, who won the super featherweight belt against Mexican boxer Juan Miguel Marquez last March 16, is set to move up to lightweight division eyeing the belt of Diaz.
He said a possible match, tentatively set for June 28 in Las Vegas between the two of them, is now being finalized. He expects the final decision on his match with Diaz in two weeks.
He said that after his match with Diaz, he could then face Marquez anew for another possible rematch when the Mexican boxer returns from his rest and vacation in September.
Marquez, after losing the belt, challenged Pacquiao to another rematch. Pacquiao and Marquez first faced each other in 2004, which ended in a draw. It was followed by last week’s match where Pacquiao emerged as the victor via a split decision.
Pacquiao shrugged off those who are questioning his victory, saying it is limited in the Philippines where crab mentality still exists. He added that what is important is that he is able to make millions of Filipino happy with his victory.
“For me, I want to fight Diaz because it is not good to see if I would face Marquez right away. The people might think that there is something personal between me and Marquez,” said Pacquiao. (Sunnex)
