By Mark Vester

Cabazon, California - Moments after Joel Casamayor, down on two official scorecards, caught Michael Katsidis with a check-left-hook to set up a come from behind TKO win in the tenth-round of their WBO interim-lightweight title bout, he began to call for a fight with current WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

Nate Campbell, holder of the WBO/WBA/IBF lightweight titles, is currently regarded as the top fighter in the lightweight division after dominating Juan Diaz to win the titles on March 8 in Cancun. Casamayor beat Campbell by a unanimous ten-round decision in 2003. Campbell, who was watching the fight from ringside, was more than happy to give Casamayor a shot at his titles. Casamayor downplayed a rematch with Campbell to a live television audience, and said that he is far more interested in fighting Pacquiao.

“I beat Nate Campbell with three weeks of training,” Casamayor said. “Now I want (Manny) Pacquiao, I want (Marco Antonio) Barrera, I want other guys.”

Last weekend, Pacquiao captured his title with a close split-decision over Juan Manuel Marquez. Along the way, Pacquiao suffered a bad cut near his eye. He is scheduled to make a move to lightweight on June 28 in Las Vegas against WBC champion David Diaz. The date may move to July or even later, if Pacquiao is unable to heal in time for the fight.

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, is not fond of placing Pacquiao in the ring with fighters who move a lot and possess quick hands. Joan Guzman lost his place in the Pacquiao sweepstakes after his win over Humberto Soto. Arum said in a post-fight interview that Guzman "moves too much." Arum would much rather place him in the ring with stationary fighters like Diaz, Ricky Hatton or a Nate Campbell.

Casamayor proved against Katsidis that he is still capable of using his legs to create a lot of movement, he still packs a big punch and his chin is still going strong. He is an unlikely candidate to land Pacquiao in the near future. Should Pacquiao get past Diaz, most predict his year-end opponent to either be Nate Campbell or another jump in weight for a mega-million dollar fight with Ricky Hatton at junior welterweight or a possible catch-weight.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com