By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao says he is ready to fight WBC featherweight champion In Jin Chi of South Korea or anybody else , if the price is right.

 

In a long distance telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today from Davao City where he stood as godfather at a christening Pacquiao said “a fight with In Jin Chi will not be helpful to me because he is a featherweight.” In Jin Chi is the reigning WBC featherweight champion.

 

WBC. Founding secretary general Rudy Salud who is a close friend of the manager of In Jin Chi, well known South Korean businessman Kusung Lee requested us last Friday to relay to Arum  the willingness of the Korean to move up to the super featherweight limit to fight Pacquiao in Macau on April 28. Salud revealed Pacquiao told him he was prepared to accept the fight but had to get his promoter’s approval.

 

Arum earlier told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he would discuss the offer with Pacquiao because “this will be an interesting fight .In Jin Chi is a good fighter.” Arum promoted the Erik Morales – In Jin Chi title fight at the Staples Center some years ago which Morales won by unanimous decision but had a huge swelling under his eye in a rugged battle.

 

However, Pacquiao said he would  will “ make a decision maybe next week. I will fight anybody provided the money is good.”

 

Pacquiao said he was surprised that the teenaged daughter of Kusung Lee, 12 yeaer old Ka Young who studies at the International School in Makati  showed up at the Makati Coliseum to get him to sign a number of gloves and punch mitts for her classmates. Pacquiao recalled that when Pacquiao he asked her why she didn’t get them signed by her father’s fighter she said “ no, no” because she was a big fan of Pacquiao. 

 

Salud said Pacquiao had hardly any time to bet on the cockfights because he was besieged by fans and spent a lot of time signing autographs and posing for pictures. Salud said Pacquiao “looked in terrific shape” despite not being in training.

 

Pacquiao was surprised to learn that Morales was reportedly in Manila with his wife and was scheduled to travel to one of the country’s most famous and exclusive resorts in the south for a brief vacation. There were earlier reports that Pacquiao, Morales and trainer Freddie Roach were being eyed to shoot a San Miguel Beer commercial which, according to Roach had been postponed.