By Mark Vester
It's very hard to believe, but promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank says Manny Pacquiao, win or lose against Oscar De La Hoya on December 6, may return to 135-pounds to defend his WBC lightweight title. Pacquiao is moving up by two divisions to 147 for the De La Hoya opportunity. Arum says a possible third bout with Juan Manuel Marquez is always available at lightweight.
"If Manny loses, or even if he wins against Oscar, he can go down to 135 [pounds]," Arum said to Abac Cordero of Philstar. "Depending on the outcome of this Dela Hoya fight, he may end up defending his lightweight crown. Of course there's [Juan Manuel] Marquez."
The worst kept secret in boxing is the direction for Pacquiao's next fight. Junior welterweight Ricky Hatton, should he beat Paulie Malignaggi on November 22, is the top choice for Pacquiao's first mega-bout of 2009. As long as Pacquiao puts on a decent showing against De La Hoya, that fight is going to be pursued by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions. De La Hoya would like to fight Hatton himself, but a Hatton-Pacquiao bout is just as big and gives the Manchester fighter a much better shot at winning.
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