By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says WBA super featherweight champion Edwin Valero “is the next likely opponent” of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao but was quick to add that “no real negotiations with anybody have started yet.”

Arum was speaking to Viva Sports correspondent Romy Sajer, the former NBN news anchorman/reporter during a break in the press and promotional tour stop in the “ Windy City ” which was highlighted by a Pep Rally at the Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago popularly known as “The Loop.”  

Even celebrated trainer Freddie Roach mentioned the possibility of a fight against Valero in the burgeoning gambling enclave of Macau which by all accounts has surpassed Las Vegas , with the fight likely to take place in October.

Sajer reported that Roach was “brutal, bold and confident” in contrast with Pacquiao and WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, who is a Mexican-American and lives in Chicago who were both “cautious gentlemen and overly diplomatic.”

Asked about the weaknesses of Diaz, Roach replied “If he gets hit, plain and simple. I mean anyone Manny Pacquiao can hit, I’m not afraid of.”

Reacting to Diaz’s trainer Jim Strickland’s statement that the champion would counter Pacquiao’s three-punch combinations with powerful four-punch combos, a stoic Roach said “after our three-punch combination Diaz may be thrown on the floor. If he wants to exchange with us, I have a better puncher for sure.”

Pacquiao, in an exclusive interview with Viva Sports and the Filipino community newspaper in Chicago was soft-spoken and diplomatic. He said “speed and power” will determine the outcome of the fight. Pacquiao refused to predict the outcome but promised to “do my best to win the fight.”

Pacquiao conceded that Diaz “can punch." I have seen him and I am a little faster I guess. I believe I am stronger than him” referring to his punching power.

Diaz was undaunted by the hoopla . Addressing the crowd of Mexican-Americans and Filipino-Americans at the Federal Plaza the champion said “I know you all came to see me…but this guy (Manny) is pretty good”

Diaz assured the fans “we’re gonna bring the belt back. We’ve been in this situation before last year. Somebody (Erik Morales) was going for four (titles) again but not anymore.”

Exuding confidence Diaz said a rematch with Pacquiao should be held in his hometown of Chicago , adding “after Chicago , then the Philippines .”

In a conversation with Chicago Sun Times reporter Roman Modrowski, the champion who is also a southpaw like Pacquiao predicted “this is going to be an all-out war. Manny is a straight- forward fighter as am I. We are both going to go at it but the only thing that’s going to happen is I’m going to win.”