By Ronnie Nathanielsz
FILIPINO ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s planned April 14 showdown against world-rated Mexican Jorge Solis is in jeopardy.
In a long distance telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Standard Today, Pacquiao hinted that he may decide to wait for a big money showdown against the winner of the March 16 battle between World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Should that happen, then the Solis fight at the Alamodome in Texas, which replaced the planned April 28 clash with WBC featherweight champion In Jin Chi, will be called off.
The juggling of schedules and venues and the change in opponents has added to the confusion over Pacquiao’s future.
Well-known boxing analyst Moy Lainez, an original member of Team Pacquiao, said all along that the Filipino ring icon would not go through with the Solis fight in view of his decision to run for a seat in Congress and that he expected him to have one more big fight against the winner of Barrera vs Marquez before hanging up his gloves.
Rod Nazario, who steered Pacquiao to two world titles, noted that the Pacman was recently quoted as saying he was quitting boxing.
“At least, he knows when to hang up his gloves unlike other boxers who don’t know when to quit,” said Nazario.
Nazario recalled that Pacquiao had told him years ago that he wanted to run for public office. He said Pacquiao’s hectic schedule traveling from one city to another and endorsing candidates would reduce his training period and endanger his chances of even beating Solis.
Pacquiao, who confirmed he would run against incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio in South Cotabato, indicated that it may be best to concentrate on his election campaign rather than divide his time between campaigning and training for the WBC Intercontinental title defense against the comparatively unknown Solis, which is not likely to command a big purse.
Pacquiao gave the impression that he would not wish to risk losing both his congressional bid and his fight by dividing his time between both. He even inquired when the Barrera-Marquez fight would take place and felt that one big money fight against the winner would be ideal.
