Pacquiao sees Venezuela's Valero as a worthy foe

Manny Pacquiao wants to face next as his next opponent World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Edwin Valero, a Venezuelan knockout artist. And he is even willing to stay as a super featherweight, before going into the lightweight division, just to do that. He also wants to fight Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, the current World Boxing Council (WBC) World featherweight champ – if only they could arrive at a mutually acceptable fight purse. In a press briefing shortly after arriving from the US Thursday morning, Pacquiao said his interest in fighting Valero started as soon as he got the buzz in boxing circles that the Venezuelan could be the the only one left in his division with a chance of beating him. The 25-year-old Valero has had 22 professional fights, all of which he won – and all of them knockouts. Remarking on Marquez's purse demand, Pacquiao said: “Mahirap kalaban si Marquez kasi humihingi ng malaking premyo. Gusto niya mas malaki pa ang premyo niya sa akin. Di kami magkasundo. Pero kung papayag sa negotiation, walang problema na matuloy ang laban." The 28-year-old Pacquiao had earlier announced that he started thinking of moving up into the lightweight division after beating Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera in a 12-round bout last October 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada (October 7 in Manila). Pacquiao had to do some last-minute intensive workout and dieting to make the 130-pound weigh-in requirement. But he said it wasn't at all that hard as reported. “Sinabi ko nahirapan ako sa timbang, pero parang pabiro lang namin sa grupo," he said. "Pagtimbang ko, naka-shorts pa ako. Sakto lang, 130 lbs. Tinakot ko lang kasama ko na overweight ako." But he did consider going up to the next weight division. "Naisip ko na pagkatapos ng fight ko kay Barrera, sabi ko aakyat na ako siguro ako 135 pounds," he said. "Tapos may nakapagsabi: 'Sino ba tatalo kay Manny Pacquiao?' Ang sabi: 'Tanging si Valero.' Parang sabi ko: 'O sige, bababa muna ako ng 130 pounds. Mag-stay muna ako. Hintayin ko na magkatagpo kami para mapatunayan ko kung kaya ko siya talunin." Pacquiao holds the WBC International super featherweight title. Of his 50 professional fights, he won 45 (35 via knockout), lost three, and draw two. Pacquiao made the announcement at the press briefing organized by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza at the DENR headquarters in Quezon City. Retirement, he said, is farthest from his mind. "Di pa siguro puwede mag-retire," he said. "Sa tuwing may fight ako, nagkakataon na nagkakagulo ang ating kababayan. Pagkatapos ng fight ko, nagkakaisa ang sambayanang Filipino. Di pa tamang panahon na magretiro sa boxing. Di pa naman ako 34, 33 o 32 – 28 years old lang. Kung titingnan mo, 22 years old nga eh." - GMANews.TV