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Valero the fans favorite? (AP Photo)
From the looks of things, Bob Arum is eager to avoid any prolonged and potentially difficult negotiations for Pacquiao's next fight. To that end he seems to be pushing for a Pacquiao vs. Margarito fight to take place in November.
Although the current front runner, Margarito is one of three names being considered for Pac-man's next fight. Juan Manuel Marquez and Edwin Valero are also possible names, although all three will need some serious work if Top Rank wants to market them as serious challenges to Pacquiao. Clottey at least had the unknown quantity to attract the fans,
Margarito, the current favorite, has yet to obtain his license to fight in the United States, although this will have been fixed by the time winter rolls around again. More than that though, his year long ban for tampering with his hand wraps has certainly damaged his reputation with a lot of fans, and now some wonder just how good he ever was. It was Mosley's trainer, not anyone from the commission who detected the anomaly with his wraps last time, so just how many other fights had he fought with the help of plaster of paris?
A bout in Mexico in the coming months will reacquaint some fans with Margarito, and he is undoubtedly still a top ten fighter, but his time away has certainly lowered his profile for the moment. A good option for the future, but he could do with a big won over a recognized welterweight presence before he jumps in against Pacquiao. An win over an anonymous opponent in Mexico just doesn't cut it for taking on the world's best.
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Margarito losing to Shane Mosley (AP Photo)
Edwin Valero has the benefits of being both undefeated and an equally exciting fighter to watch as Pacquiao. He also has every promoters dream, a perfect 27 knockouts in 27 wins. The marketing for this fight is fairly easy to figure out, although there is a snag. As good as Valero is, the heaviest he's fought so far is Lightweight. Jumping up two weight classes at once is not usually a good idea as Marquez proved against Floyd Mayweather.
Also as Bob Arum put it talking to Boxingscene:
"Valero might be the best but frankly he's an inside story in boxing. The public at large really don't know who the hell he is. That can change, and that's my job, as Valero's promoter, to change that - but I don't think I that can accomplish that job that quickly. We need someone the country is familiar with and Margarito is someone they are certainly familiar with"
Before he takes on Pacquiao a title at light welterweight would be the next logical step. Much the same as Pacquiao did prior to his rise to the top of the welterweight tree. The promoters could even market Valero as the 'next Manny Pacquiao' with his weight class jumping and exciting style. In truth such comparisons are a long way off for the Venezuelan, but with the right opponent at light welterweight, Valero might be the biggest draw of the three choices.
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Does Marquez have the size? (AP Photo)
Finally the last option Top Rank are looking into is a third fight between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, a man who he has beaten and drawn with before. Perhaps more importantly though also a man who Floyd Mayweather dominated, and who most agree has little business fighting north of lightweight.
Although the first two fights were close, and Marquez has a style that Pacquiao struggled with to some degree, he simply doesn't carry the extra weight as well as Pacquiao does. A third fight would almost certainly be one sided, and with Marquez having lost to both of the top two fighters in the world fairly recently, it probably wouldn't sell that well either.
George Bond, Pittsburgh PA: " Margarito, Valero and Marquez or in other words undeserving, unknown and underweight. All three are bad match ups for Pacquiao for one reason or another."
Pierce Fowler, Pittsburgh PA: "I can't believe Arum wants to give MArgarito the biggest fight in boxing after he was caught cheating like that, he wasn't saying the same thing after the Resto Collins fight now was he?"
Comments
None!
Pacquiao is king! He is Asian! Feed your mind!
Reality, reality, reality!
heheheh edwin valero is the best fighter in the universe
me and mayweather is drug addict
choose valero bob exciting fight...
I really really like Manny Pacquiao to fight Mayweather Jr., but making this fight will be close to impossible. Against Margarito, I think Margarito is too big for Pacquiao, 5'11" vs 5'6 1/2", the height, reach different is too much, this is not the fight that I want. Bradley, Valero and Marquez III are the best option and I think is easy to sell. It could be better than Pacquiao-Clottey. Bring it on!
For me, MOSLEY VS. PAQUIAO WILL GONNA BE THE FIGHT OF THE DECADE!!...
pacman vs valero is the best fight
it's better to fight pacman in toe to toe!
A lot of action will happen compare previous fight of manny.
nah edwin aint ready for pac. marquez would be a good fight, say @ 140? he gets fat though.
and no margacheato please.
if mosley wins i want him to fight pac.
Valero is not yet ripe at the moment to fight Pacquiao, I think this match up should not happen at this stage. Valero needs to hone his skills although he got power but one mistake to the Pacman will surely he will be destroyed. Either Bradley or Marquez will be a good one to test his ability and skills.
Pacman vs Valero? not a good choice, Valero will be sent to retirement early. Cotto is the gage for Valero if could stand any chance to Pacman..
Let's see. 1) Floydung is scared as a ladybug and he wouldn't fight Manny. 2) Marquez is all washed-up, he's no longer up to par and his pee is no longer effective. 3) Margachito can't get his licensed back and he can only fight in Mexico. 4) Mosley is old as hell. 5) Valero better not fight Manny before Manny crack his head open since he has been in an accident back in his country. So Manny's best bet, run for congressman.
valero this is a MISMATCH against pacquiao, FAREWELL fights for manny here are the list mosley, bradley, berto,margarito,and spinks or foreman for the 8th divisions.
pacman vs dinamita cause still unfinished business for pacman..
pacquiaovs marquez@ 140
Manny won't benefit from defeating Marquez because everyone knows the Pacman has long evolved way from the man who drew with the Mexican counter puncher. Since that fight, he easily dispatched Diaz, Dela Hoya, Hatton, Cotto and placed the rock solid Clottey into covering up the whole night to avoid getting knocked out. He's a fourth grader who went up two weight classes and beating up and topnotch 6th graders. Margarito is simply a cheater. Period. So the best option is Edwin Valero. With his sterling credentials and no man can withstand punch, he deserves to be the best and even the last opponent for Pacquiao before the Pound for Pound King retires. Both love to hit and fight toe to toe. Pacquiao may retire without fighting Mayweather because he has nothing more to prove. He is the best in the hurt business and gives what the fans want to see.
MARGARITO IS A CHEAT AND MUCH TALLER THAN THE PAC!! MISMATCH!! MARQUEZ SHOULD STOP BEFORE HE SUFFERS BROKEN BONES!! THE EXIT SIGN IS VISIBLE!! VALERO??? LET THE CHAVEZ PUPPET TRY HIS LUCK AGAIST THE PAC!! HE SHOULD LEARN HOW TO CLOSE HIS MOUTH THOUGH OR ELSE THE PACK COULD STUFF IT WITH PUNCHES FROM EVERY ANGLE!!
though i agree with pacfan that valero may die in the ring due to his cracked head. remember Viloria and Sasakul?
Manny will surely lose to Floyd ... in a beauty contest.
Valero will get Real tattoo on his face when he face PACBOY
Bradley should be next or paul williams if he decides to comeback down to 147lbs.
I AM FILIPINO,,,,PLS. CHOOSE VALERO.. PACQUIAO HAS NOTHING TO PROVE AGAINST MARGARITO.MY SECOND CHOICE IS MARQUEZ. I WANT PACQUIAO TO SHUT HIM UP. ARUM..STOP GRABBING A LOT OF MONEY. GIVE US THE FIGHT WE WANT THIS TIME.. TRASH MARGARITO CHOICE.
We would be able to know how strong Valero is. That's his only threat to Pacquiao. Valero is not a runner unlike mayweather who is a boring potshoter with his shoulder roll defense.
Arum is rewarding marcheato for bad behaviour.
What if Valero would be hit on the head and do a chicken dance? Who'll be liable if he'll have brain damage and end up in a coma 'coz he's a crackhead already?
valero should fight some well known fighter like marquez, hatton before pac... not jumping to the pinacle... the only thing valero dominates because all of fighter he fights are just a tricycle driver!!!!
dang! didnt vote, dont want any of those 3! i want a pacman-mosley fight! arum should do his job and give pacman a world class opponent and not some amateur
Let Valero fight a top caliber fighter first maybe this June or July and if he wins, he can challenge Pacquiao on November.Maybe Humberto Sotto at 135 lbs or somebody at 140 lbs before jumping to challenge Pacquiao at 147.
If Cotto defeates Foreman, fight Cotto at 154 and take the 8th division title.
Valero sounds good but damn man he hasnt fought any BIG names, not a single one.
I'd prefer destroying marquez once and for all.
Give Valero a chance to fight other contenders first like hatton, marquez or even Khan.. that is - to market him to the fans. if he's successful, then he can fight pacman, i spac hasn't retired yet :)
no more credible opponent for packy, bring on mosley and retire...
I think the best option either berto or bradley
if only foreman is available.. . but for me right now, edwin valero is the most credible fighter for pac. he may be unknown to many. but boxing followers knows him a lot. and here in the philippines.
let's forget margarito and marquez FOR THE GOOD OF BOXING, and for the sake of the fans let's bring in Valero. let's see what Valero can do.Manny's fight with Valero is what the fans need right now except that those 27 wins were over class B fighters. i chose Valero because there's no more logical fighter who can give MANNY a good fight beside MOSLEY & MAYWEATHER
I say Margarito is the best option,what is this suspension got to do w/ boxing skill margarito has?He is an exciting fighter.he is even an exciting fighter than floyd.if not margarito then andre berto.or if not,then fight bradley,Valero is still a green horn,Marquez is a wash up.
Manny Pacquiao should fight PAUL WILLIAMS, the MOST AVOIDED FIGHTER IN THE WORLD!!!
valero who? why not let valero and marquez fight first then the winner will face pacquiao.... howz dat? ^_^
the next opponent of paquiao i think is floyd mayweather because all people around the globe want to see this spectacular fight that ever had, this is the amazing fight in the history of boxing but teh two fighter have an ego , let God permet us to fight this two amazing boxer , Mayweather please fight manny don't be a coward bacause America is a land of brave people accept this greatest challenge and I SALUTE you if you fight my fellow country men,Don't waste your time manny will retire.
winner of mosley mayweather,you know what i mean.
In this order:
1. winner of mayweather vs mosley
2. edin valero
3. margarito
4. marquez
yeah williams can be a very good fight for pacman although williams has a big advantage physically. bradley would be a good one as well i hope arum would consider that if he wants a high PPV sales!
Valero Who???????Please money mayweather fight pacman.This is the only generation that we have both the best fighter in the world today.you are the best def.fighter in my generation.pacman is my country man before hin you were my idol but now you both are. they only way to deside who is the top p4p is for both of you to meet in the squere cercle after the next day in my book in the story will close and i will say that in my life time we have the 2 best fighter in History if not alltime.
valero is a way much better than gayweather fight.... everyone wants gayweather because they just want to see him get knocked out... but it would bore us to death..run and clinch all nyt... valero will do much better... the ring will explode... both manny and valero have speed, though the power will depend on what weight class they will be fighting...
manny doesnt need gayweather!! manny has fought a lot more soon to be hall of fame boxers than floyd... each and every weight class manny fought the best... only the best!!!
1. both mayweather and mosley - to seal the pound for pound title
2. winner of yuri foreman vs cotto - for 8th division title
3. edwin valero - the 27th wins, 27th KO's are all flukes
4. marquez - unfinished business and to KO marquez for good
5 more fights,then RETIRE!
why not tim bradley or campbell they are good oponent i think en manny can still fight at 140lbs those 2 divisions (140 and 147lbs) can be at pac range of fighting.why not try them they sounds nice to fight.
That is WHY we . . . BOYCOTT MAYWEATHER . . . watch the fight for FREE on May 1st . . . BOYCOTT MAYWEATHER . . . watch the fight for FREE on May 1st . . . BOYCOTT MAYWEATHER . . . watch the fight for FREE on May 1st . . .
Pacman vs. gayweather or shane mosley is the best fight for me...
If Arum puts Marquez on the line against Pac as the next draw, Marquez will be much thankful as Clottey because it will make Marquez ten times richer before he retires. He will not block Pac punches, but he will not get up after a first KD. Fight is over, Marquez never been happier. LOL!!
All boxers who may have the chance to fight with the Pacman now will have the feeling of winning a jackpot. Do you agree?
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