Hint of Pacquiao Preparing For Barrera?

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Council founding secretary-general lawyer Rudy Salud said he has learned that the big derby, which Manny Pacquiao hosts annually in Cotabato in February, has been postponed for April as the Pacman maybe preparing for a rematch with WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera.

Salud said Nelson Salvanera, who handles Pacquiao’s cockfighting business, informed him that the Filipino champion had given him instructions to inform all the big-time cockers, including the lawyer, that the annual derby was being pushed back because he would be in training for a March 11 rematch with Barrera.

The news may well be interpreted to mean that Pacquiao was inclined toward Golden Boy Promotions, with whom he signed a seven-fight contract in mid-September, rather than Top Rank with whom he reportedly signed a four-year deal according to an announcement by Bob Arum last Nov. 18 at the Pacquiao-Erik Morales post-fight press conference.

It may also indicate that Pacquiao who has refused to comment on the legal battle over his promotional rights between arch rivals De la Hoya and Arum expects the case to be resolved one way or another long before March 11.