BOBBY PACQUIAO FIGHTS TODAY VS HUMBERTO SOTO
Result to Determine Manny's Next Opponnent
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 10 Jun 2007
BobPac (R) and Soto at LA presscon.
Bobby Pacquiao, who had been lurking in the shadows of his more illustrious brother Manny, will fight today in New York against Mexican Humberto Soto who is apparently groomed by Bob Arum to be Manny Pacquiao's next opponent.
Bobby Pacquiao (27-12-3 12KOs) was coming off a loss against Hector Velazquez last November and had been given little chance by experts to beat Soto (41-5-2 25KOs). Soto, who is a relatively unknown fighter to the mainstream boxing fans, has been touted as Mexico's best kept secret. Soto had not lost a fight in the last 5 years compiling an 18-0 record with 13 stoppages and 1 no contest in that time span.
Experts said that Soto, who is promoted by Bob Arum, is one boxer who could give superstar Manny Pacquiao a run for his money and a fight with Soto for Pacquiao is more risky than a fight with Marquez, Barrera, Guzman and Valero.
If Soto wins today against Bobby, he would most likely secure a date with the Filipino firebrand on October 6 in Vancouver as Top Rank is hard-pressed to find a suitable opponent for Manny because of its ongoing legal battle with Golden Boy Promotions.
Golden Boy holds under contract the big names of the division -- Marquez, Barrera and Guzman -- that will make multi-million dollar megafights against Pacquiao. Until Top Rank and Golden Boy settle their differences, a Pacquiao fight against these names will always be difficult to make.
Thus a Manny Pacquiao-Humberto Soto duel will most likely take place next -- that is if everything happens according to the script.
But enter Bobby Pacquiao. If the Soto factor was a big question mark in Pacquiao's next fight, predicting the result of a Bobby Pacquiao fight is a double big question mark. Ever since Bobby barged into the U.S. boxing scene two years ago, boxing fans were confounded again and again by Bobby's big wins against opponents he had been given little chance to pull an upset off.
Bobby's last victim was the comebacking former world champion Kevin Kelly who incidentally was the fighter who last beat Humberto Soto five years ago. Bobby knocked out Kelly in the 4th round at the Madison Square Garden in New York last year, the very same venue where he battles Soto today.
So if you'd like to predict the outcome of today's fight -- and if effect Manny Pacquiao's next opponent -- your guess is as good as mine.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES FROM TODAY’S OFFICIAL WEIGH-INS AND PRESS CONFERENCE FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED U.S. DEBUT TOMORROW, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29
Sat, 29 Nov 2025Tagaytay Hosts 3rd Asian Chess Championship for Disabled 2025
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 29 Nov 2025WEIGHTS FROM PROBOXTV’S ‘THE CONTENDER SERIES’ AT SAVE MART CENTER IN FRESNO, SAT., NOVEMBER 29
Sat, 29 Nov 2025BIRMINGHAM WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS BEN WHITTAKER PREPARES FOR MATCHROOM DEBUT
Fri, 28 Nov 2025Coach Marvin Somodio: Full of Life and Punch at 42
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Fri, 28 Nov 2025Boston Ends Detroit's Winning Streak at 12; Celtics Trip Pistons, 117-114 at the Garden
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 28 Nov 20257-Eleven Run 2026 set on Jan. 31-Feb. 1
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 28 Nov 2025Carlos Cañizales Forced to Cancel Flight to Thailand for WBC World Title Defense
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Boxing Champions Promotions to Present Manny Pacquiao & Freddie Roach with Inaugural “Centurion Awards” During Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event on November 29
Thu, 27 Nov 2025Atif Oberlton Takes on Vaughn Alexander on Saturday, December 6th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
Thu, 27 Nov 2025Iligan tops in PEKAF Mindanao qualifying tourney
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 27 Nov 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2026 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th
Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Renowned Boxing Trainer Bob Santos Launches Private Boxing Camp in Las Vegas
Thu, 27 Nov 2025Eight Boxers Remain in WBC Grand Prix Finals On December 20
Wed, 26 Nov 2025WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Confirms World Title Fight with David Benavidez on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas
Wed, 26 Nov 2025