DIAZ AND MARQUEZ LEAD RACE IN NEXT PACQUIAO SWEEPSTAKES
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Oct 2007
LAS VEGAS--If we go by the number of fighters who want a piece of him, Filipino superstar would be the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet many times over.
This as an army of elite fighters have expressed their interest at slugging it out with the Pinoy boxing hero, their hopes of landing the mega-buck duel fueled by the enormous purse that comes with fighting the Pacman.
Despite the plethora of possible opposition, however, only two names have emerged thus far as clear front-runners in the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes--WBC lightweight champ David Diaz and WBC superfeatherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez.
Although Marquez is contracted to defend his title on November 3, chances either he or Diaz will be Pacquiao's mega-buck opponent sometime in the first quarter of next year.
The Chicago-based David Diaz, who trounced Erik Morales in his last title defense on August 4, has been mentioned by Pacquiao as the fighter he wants to face next.
"I would like to go up to the 135-lb. division and challenge David Diaz for his WBC title," Pacquiao told the media after a mass was held yesterday inside his suite on the 61st floor of The Hotel at the Mandalay Bay.
"Then I could go down anytime to 130-pounds to fight anybody," he added, opening the doors for a possible rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Although Pacquiao had to strain to make the 130-lb limit last Friday, he indicated that the difficulty was due to his failure to control his food intake, and not on the natural progression of his body.
Marquez, however, has yet to make sure he takes care of business on November 3, when he defends his WBC tiara against the very reliable Rocky Juarez.
Aside from Diaz and Marquez, the other fighters who have a legitimate claim at becoming Pacquiao's next opponent include WBA superfeatherweight champ Edwin Valero, WBO superfeatherweight champ Joan Guzman, WBA lightweight champ Juan Diaz, WBO lightweight king Michael Katsidis, and even WBA featherweight champ Chris John of Indonesia.
"Line them up," Pacquiao would tell the media at the post-fight press conference held at the media room of the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Top photo: Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, raises his hands in victory with Philippine Vice-President Noli de Castro. Reuters photo.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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