By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Bobby Pacquiao who faces WBC super featherweight No. 2 contender Humberto Soto, winner of a title eliminator over Ivan Valle last August 12 is ”looking good” according to journalist Winchell Campos.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Campos said that while they were disappointed over Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s defeat in the congressional elections, younger brother Bobby was “working harder than ever” in preparation for his June 6 showdown with Soto at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden.
Pacquiao is training under celebrated two-time “Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach and has reportedly “changed his mental outlook” for the better.
Pacquiao has looked good in sparring and if he continues training hard is expected to give Soto who is handled by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum some problems. Arum said Soto is among four possible opponents of Manny Pacquiao who is scheduled to return to the ring on October 6 but would have to first overcome the challenge posed by the younger Pacquiao.
The three other possible opponents mentioned by Arum were Marco Antonio Barrera, Joan Guzman and undefeated knockout artist Edwin Valero.
Pacquiao has a record of 27-12-3 with 12 knockouts while Soto's record is 41-5-2 with 25 KO's. He is coming off a third round TKO win against Humberto Toledo last February 22.
