WAKEE SALUD AGREES SOTO WON’T LAST AGAINST PACMAN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 13 Jun 2007
Rex “Wakee” Salud who is regarded at times as a close friend and confidant of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao says he agrees with the boxing experts who predicted that Pacquiao will knock out Humberto Soto who mauled Pacquiao’s brother Bobby in Madison Square Garden last Sunday.
Although some American and even Filipino journalists have been trying to hype the vengeance angle in a Pacquiao-Soto showdown which Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer predicted months ago was the publicity ploy of promoter Bob Arum, Salud said Soto couldn’t stand up to the power and the speed of Pacquiao who is a far more devastating puncher than his young brother and is an almost complete fighter.
However, the boxing promoter/manager conceded that while Soto, the No. 2 WBC super featherweight contender who defeated Ivan Valle in a title eliminator last year “is the best super featherweight in Mexico”, Pacquiao “can’t get big money” fighting him. Salud said that Arum has “no fighters” who could bring in a lucrative purse for Pacquiao.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Salud said that “the best fight for Manny right now” in terms of money would be a rematch with legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera who has repeatedly said he wants to avenge his November 2003 demolition in San Antonio, Texas. Salud also said it would be “an easy fight” for Pacquiao.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer disclosed “it is true that Barrera has elected to do an easy fight” even as he hinted he didn’t know Barrera’s motives. Schaefer said they know for a fact that Top Rank and his Mexican representative Fernando Beltran “have had extensive contact with Barrera” which he added was “another attempt to steal a fighter from Golden Boy.”
Schaefer said that Golden Boy “will not tolerate that kind of behavior and put both parties on notice that we will sue them swiftly if this does not stop.” The Golden Boy CEO also accused Beltran who has long been identified with Arum of “interfering with other Golden Boy fighters and he would be well advised to stop these activities.” Schaefer insisted that contrary to claims by Arum, Barrera has “more than one fight keft with Golden Boy.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Meet Jayr Raquinel: The Filipino Sensation Taking the Super Flyweight Division by Storm
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 10 Nov 2025NONITO DONAIRE HOPES TO BECOME TO BECOME WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Astrobio loses by TKO in 7th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 09 Nov 2025UNDEFEATED KNOCKOUT MONSTER VERGIL ORTIZ JR. DESTROYS ERICKSON LUBIN IN SECOND-ROUND
Sun, 09 Nov 2025Manny Pacquiao Arrives in LA to Oversee Son Jimuel's Highly Anticipated Pro Debut
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Robert Racasa Shines for the Philippines on First Day of World Memory Championships
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 09 Nov 2025P20k for 42k winners in 3rd SDSPPO
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Weights Set for Tomorrow’s Sanman Boxing Show in General Santos City
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Vergil Ortiz vs. Erickson Lubin: Can Lubin Tip the Ortiz/Ennis Apple Cart?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Gibbons’ ‘Thrilla’ regrets
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Erickson Lubin Set for Explosive Showdown in Fort Worth
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Ring Officials Announced for Michael Hunter Vs Eli Frankham - York Hall, 5th December
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Baseball in the Sulaimán Family
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Shields signs $8 million multi year contract with Salita Promotions
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 08 Nov 2025A TIBUTE TO VICTOR CONTE
Sat, 08 Nov 2025