By Mark Vester

WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao is currently in Las Vegas, meeting with his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, trying to work out the details and the opponent for his next ring appearance. Arum told the Manila Bulletin that a December 6 with Oscar De La Hoya is the "Plan A" opponent. If the negotiations to make De La Hoya-Pacquiao falls apart, then and only then, will Arum go to Plan B and Plan C - which are Humberto Soto and Edwin Valero. 

"I spent quite some time with Manny today," Arum said. "Soto and Valero are Plans B and C," said Arum. "If the De La Hoya fight doesn’t happen, we will talk about Soto or Valero."

Arum is scheduled to meet with Richard Schaefer, CEO for Golden Boy Promotions, who is coming back from a European vacation.

The main issue to make the fight, even more than money, is the weight. The target weight is going to 147-pounds. Pacquiao would have to move up by two-weight divisions, but his team is very skeptical that De La Hoya can make 147.

As reported yesterday, Pacquiao's lawyer Franklin Gacal told The Bulletin that Manny will demand a hefty stipulation in the fight contract that makes De La Hoya pay for coming in overweight on the day of the weigh-in. For every pound above 147, De La Hoya would have to pay $750,000. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach will try to push for a same-day weigh-in. De La Hoya has not made 147 since 2001.

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