GROUP READY TO STAGE PACMAN'S VANCOUVER FIGHT
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 12 Jun 2007
A group headed by a businessman from Vancouver, Canada is behind efforts at bringing Manny Pacquiao's next fight in that country against either Mexican Humberto Soto or WBO champion Joan Guzman of the Dominical Republic.
Although American promoter Bob Arum has continued to keep the cards close to his chest as to Pacquiao's next foe, all indications point to naming the next opponent 'when the site deal is finalized.'
Leading the race is Vancouver, Canada, which has a good number of Filipinos living in the area, although Macau in China is also a possibility still being discussed.
According to Boxingconfidential.com, the key man working on a possible Pacquiao fight in Canada is businessman Geoffrey Hughes, who is reportedly a good friend of promoter Lou Dibella.
"DiBella said that his pal is serious about landing a Pacman fight for his city and is not really concerned about who the opponent is," reports Boxingconfidential's Michael Marley from New York.
"It's no secret that the proposed site is Vancouver, British Columbia, where it is said about 140,000 Filipinos reside. Vancouver could also draw from the large number of Pinoys in the Seattle area, only a few hours drive or a shorter plane flight away," Marley added.
According to the report, Team Pacquiao had a sitdown meeting before the Humberto Soto-Bobby Pacquiao fight, which packed 20,658 fans into the Madison Square Garden most of them rooting for Miguel Cotto who was fighting Zab Judah in the main event. The meeting was held in a hotel room and Arum, trainer Freddie Roach, adviser Michael Koncz and Pacquiao himself exchanged ideas and thoughts about who the next ring foe should be for Manny.
"There seems to be zero enthusiasm for taking on the WBO junior lightweight champion (Joan Guzman) in the Pacman camp," noted Marley, who said that both Roach and Koncz were in agreement that Soto would be a more tailored-made opponent than the fleet-footed, busy-punching Guzman, aside from the fact that the Mexican, like Pacquiao, is also promoted by Top Rank.
Rex 'Wakee' Salud, who is another close associate of Pacquiao, had earlier said that a Pacquiao-Soto clash is already about '75 percent a done deal' based on feedback from Top Rank.
Both Pacquiao and Soto have expressed interest in fighting each other, although WBA superfeatherweight champion Edwin Valero is also keen on facing Pacquiao in Macau, China.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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