Friday, December 29, 2006 Pacquiao challenges Barrera
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Top Rank's Bob Arum on Wednesday said they are going to issue a challenge to World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera to face Manny Pacquiao in a rematch, a showdown that is highly anticipated by boxing fans.
In an exclusive interview, Arum admitted to Sun.Star General Santos that he had already secured the nod of Pacquiao as the latter's promoter.
This development virtually eased out Oscar dela Hoya's Golden Boy Promotion from the bitter tug of war in who will promote boxing world's hottest superstar today.
Arum and Pacquiao were to fly to Manila Thursday morning for a press conference later in the evening to declare their challenge to Barrera.
"If Barrera refuses, there are at least six boxers in the (super featherweight) division who are willing to fight Manny," Arum said.
Arum and dela Hoya filed lawsuits and counter suits against each other after Pacquiao signed separate promotional contracts with them.
Arum, a Harvard Law School graduate, declined to issue any comment on the status of the lawsuits he and dela Hoya filed against each other.
Jeng Gacal, Filipino lawyer of Pacquiao, said the cases are now with the federal court in the US. He said the US court could issue a ruling within the first quarter of 2007.
"Hopefully, it would be sooner than later," Gacal said during a dinner hosted by hotelier Rey Golingan, former benefactor of Pacquiao during the latter's amateur days.
An insider of Team Pacquiao said they are eyeing an April date with Barrera.
The same source said the fight could still proceed in spite of the ongoing lawsuits.
When asked about this development, Pacquiao refused to issue any statement.
He said it is up to his lawyer to sort out the legal implication during the press conference.
Gacal will also be attending the said press affair.
Arum said Manny could also opt not to hire a new manager after Shelly Finkel signed a document relinquishing his managerial relationship with the General Santos southpaw.
Finkel used to get 20 per cent of Pacquiao's purse as managerial fees.
Arum earlier explained the nuances of the legal entanglements that were caused by Pacquiao's signing up with both Golden Boy Promotion and Top Rank to General Santos City Chief Prosecutor Dick Jamora, uncle in law of Pacquiao.
