This content is protected By NICK GIONGCO MANNY PACQUIAO will return to the ring sometime “in the first two weeks of March (2008 ” Top Rank big boss Bob Arum disclosed yesterday. Arum told The Bulletin in an overseas call from Las Vegas that the choice of opponent and venue have yet to be decided since there’ll be a couple of crucial fights next month in the super-featherweight category that would produce two candidates. "Unless Manny would like a fight with (World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation lightweight champion) Juan Diaz, we wouldn’t know at this time who’s he fighting next," said Arum. Arum said that while there are several venues and foes being looked at, "the choice of opponent will decide where the fight will take place." Juan Manuel Marquez is defending his World Boxing Council 130-lb title against Rocky Juarez on Nov. 3, while Joan Guzman is staking his World Boxing Organization diadem against Humberto Soto on Nov. 17. Save for Soto, who is under contract with Top Rank, all three are being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) owned by Oscar De La Hoya. Wakee Salud, a close ally of Pacquiao, expressed the opinion that "it would be better for Pacquiao to take on reigning World Boxing Council lightweight king David Diaz next then face (Juan) Diaz in a unification bout." "David Diaz is also tough but Manny has the firepower needed to soften him," said Salud. "In the event Manny beats David (Diaz), then a fight with Juan (Diaz) is going to be a blockbuster," added Salud. Pacquiao is fresh from repulsing Marco Antonio Barrera last Oct. 6 and reports from the US reveal that the Top Rank-GBP partnership proved to be a smash hit among fight fans. "I am very pleased with the (pay-per-view) numbers," said Arum, referring to the 350,000 buys and the million ticket sales of the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Pacquiao is guaranteed a share in the PPV revenues and live gate although it could not be determined exactly how much the 28-year-old lefty is going to get. Arum noted that the third fight between Pacquiao and Erik Morales in November last year also generated the same numbers. [code]http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20071017106018.html[/code]
