Pacquiao: I’m ready for anybody
By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:14:00 07/02/2008
HOLLYWOOD—Knockout artist Edwin Valero, British superstar Ricky Hatton, veteran Nate Campbell, aging Joel Casamayor or unbeaten Joan Guzman.
Line them up, Manny Pacquiao doesn’t care whoever will be his next opponent on Nov. 8.
“Kahit sino (Anybody will do),” said Pacquiao, while relaxing at his unit at the gated Palazzo residences here. “Ready to fight ako.”
Pacquiao and his team motored back to Los Angeles late Sunday after gracing a concert by Imelda Papin at the Orleans.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, has indicated he wants Hatton next in a possible $20-million deal.
Top Rank president Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, on the other hand, said negotiations are almost done with Akihiko Honda, Valero’s handler, for the flamboyant Venezuelan to tangle with Pacquiao, the new World Boxing Council lightweight titlist following a systematic and brutal ninth-round demolition of David Diaz on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
As usual, Pacquiao said he’s leaving the fight arrangements to Arum.
Though he’s just scaled the 135-pound division, in the process becoming the first Asian to hold four world crowns in different weight classes, Pacquiao said he’s willing to move up to 140 to challenge Hatton, who, like Pacquiao in the Philippines, enjoys a fanatical following in the United Kingdom.
“Walang problema sa (There’s no problem at) 140,” said Pacquiao, adding that he usually weighs 145-146 before he starts training camp. “I’ve weighed as much as 154 in-between fights.”
Though Valero, who trains in Los Angeles, holds an eye-popping 24 straight knockout wins, he has to follow Pacquiao at 135 if he wishes for the fight to push through.
According to a Team Pacquiao insider, however, Honda is no longer keen on pitting his ward against Pacquiao after watching the Filipino ring icon demolish Diaz, who was seen wearing dark shades while playing cards at the casino early Monday.
The 32-year-old Diaz, wife Tanya and trainers Jim Strickland and Mike Garcia are set to fly back to Chicago on Monday.
Elated by his performance against Diaz, Pacquiao said he intends to do the same six-seven weeks of intensive training for his next fight at a yet to be announced venue.
Guzman, pride of the Dominican Republic, holds a 28-fight win streak with 17 knockouts, while Casamayor, turning 37 this month, totes a 36-3-1 record with 22 knockouts.
Campbell, also 36, carries a 32-5-1 mark with 25 knockouts.
Unconcerned by the influx of visitors, Pacquiao played darts in his two-bedroom loft Monday night while noted composer Lito Camo and Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee were among those at the living room hitting the notes.
According to Pacquiao, who’s returning to Manila on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), he intends to rest for a while, honor his commitments, spend time with his children and catch up with his studies at the Notre Dame College in General Santos City.
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