TEAM PACQUIAO MEMBER: NO TO PACQUIAO-SOTO FIGHT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 12 Jul 2008
CEBU CITY -- A close associate of Manny Pacquiao isn't pleased with the development of Pacquiao's fall fight where it is now reported that Mexican Humberto Soto would take Valero's place on November 15.
Speaking on condition of anonimity, the source said that if Arum could not make a meaningful fight for Pacquiao in November, it is better to forego the fight and wait for the result of the fights involving Hatton-Malignaggi, Campbell-Guzman, Casamayor-Marquez and Diaz-Katsidis to make for a more compelling fight for Pacquiao sometime early next year.
"If Pacquiao-Diaz did not do well in the gate and in the PPV sales, what more with the Pacquiao-Soto pairing? It is a dry fight, high risk and very low reward kind of fight that I think Manny should not take," the source said. "I also feel the same with the Valero fight -- that fight will not really sell."
When told that there are reports that the WBA-WBO-IBF lightweight champion Nate Campbell is willing to ditch his fight with Guzman if a fight with Pacquiao can be arranged, the source said "if that fight could be made then that is the fight that Pacquiao should take -- for the money and for historical reasons."
"I know that Arum is the best promoter out there but I just feel that he should not do the Pacquiao-Soto fight right now," the source concluded.
Soto was coming off from a controversial disqualification loss agasint Francisco Lorenzo last June 28 and had been schooled by Joan Guzman over twelve rounds during their fight last year. The only compelling angle for a Pacquiao-Soto fight is Soto's knockout win over Pacquiao's brother Bobby in June last year but that probably is already too distant a memory for most of the fans.
Undoubtedly Pacquiao's biggest fight out there would be against British superstar Ricky Hatton if Hatton gets past Malignaggi in November. Hatton was quoted as saying that he would like to end his career fighting in front of 100,000 of his fans in Britain. A Pacquiao-Hatton fight could presumably make more than $20M for each fighter.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
Wed, 10 Sep 2025CROCKER-DONOVAN II: INSIDE LOOK AT FIRST FACE-OFF IN BELFAST
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Former Panamanian WBA champ Jorge Lujan hospitalized
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Southern Sports Heroes Night on Sept. 28
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez and Malachi Georges Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Five of World Boxing Championships
Tue, 09 Sep 2025GM candidate Ronald Dableo's squad rules Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament, pockets P150,000
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Saggap, Manayon top Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Sep 2025