Arum: Campbell next for Pacquiao

IF everything goes well for the World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in his journey to the lightweight division against David Diaz for the WBC crown on June 28, it will open up a lot of options on who his next opponent will be, including a possible dream match with “Golden Boy” Oscar Dela Hoya.

“The most important direction for Manny to go is to build on his legacy,’’ said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum in a report posted at thesweetscience.com.

“If he beats Diaz and wins a fourth world title then we’ll decide who he fights next. He has a plethora of options and opponents to choose from.”

After a win with Diaz, Arum said he likes to pit Pacquiao in a unification bout with Nate Campbell, who owns three lightweight titles (WBO, IBF and WBA). Campbell got his belts after he dethroned Juan Diaz in a 12-round split decision last March 8.

Arum is also eyeing to let Pacquiao face knockout artist Edwin Valero, who holds the WBA super featherweight belt, and who is aching for a shot at the Filipino champion.

Unify

“He could fight Nate Campbell to unify the lightweight title. He may want to fight Valero, since Valero got licensed in Texas we could do that fight in Macau,” he said.

Pacquiao’s promoter added other prospects for his next foe like WBO super featherweight king Joan Guzman, who is undefeated in his professional career and also a rematch with his nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.

Arum prefers a unification bout with Campbell rather than a second rematch with Marquez because it’s a much greater battle.

“He could fight Joan Guzman. He could have another fight with Marquez. He has a whole field to choose from. So I really think it depends on how he does against Diaz. How he handles that weight. If he dominates Diaz, maybe we go to Nate Campbell for the unified title. I think that would be a huge fight. A unification is a bigger fight than Marquez.’’

Past his prime

Arum didn’t deny that Dela Hoya is in his radar as a possible opponent for the Filipino superstar but he belittled Dela Hoya’s capabilities as a boxer because he thinks the “Golden Boy” is way past his prime and will easily be gasping for air after six rounds.

“I would not be opposed to that fight if Manny shows he can handle 135 pounds because I don’t think Oscar can fight any more. I think he’ll struggle with (Steve) Forbes. He’ll beat him but he’ll struggle because Oscar’s a six-round fighter now,” said Arum.

However, Arum clarified that if dela Hoya was at his prime, he wouldn’t let Manny face him.

“Would I put Pacquiao in with the old Oscar? Of course not, but he’s not the old Oscar. He can’t go more than six rounds. He won’t pay the price to condition himself any more. He thinks he’s doing it, but he isn’t. Look at how many fights he’s run out of gas.”

Pacquiao earlier said he is willing to face dela Hoya for $30 million to $40 million at the 147-pound division.