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Roach prefers Valero over Soto vs Pacman
By Nick Giongco
Even top trainer Freddie Roach is baffled by reports over the different names that have been cropping up as Manny Pacquiao’s opponent in November.
"A few days ago, (Top Rank head) Bob Arum called me and said it’s going to be (Edwin) Valero," said Roach yesterday as he was winding up in his training duties at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Suddenly, the name of Humberto Soto is being mentioned and Roach could not help but express his disappointment over the preference for the Mexican warrior over Valero, the unbeaten Venezuelan knockout king.
But before Roach said he understands the difficulties in signing up the best fighter available right now.
"All of them have scheduled fights," said Roach, referring to the match-ups that will take place in the coming months that will determine who gets the biggest chance of landing a megabuck Pacquiao fight in 2009.
Roach’s first preference, Ricky Hatton of England, will face Paul Malignaggi in November as in the case with Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, Joel Casamayor of Cuba, Nate Campbell of the US and Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic.
Marquez will make his debut at lightweight against Casamayor, while Campbell defends his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization 135-lb titles against Guzman, also making his first appearance at lightweight, also on the very same night Marquez and Casamayor slug it out.
Roach said he had told Arum about his opinion about Valero, who is a more attractive opponent that Soto, "who just lost."
Soto was handed a disqualification defeat against Francisco Lorenzo of the Dominican Republic underneath Pacquiao’s manhandling of David Diaz last June 28 and while he is also the one who knocked out Bobby Pacquiao last year in New York, "nobody remembers anymore that he knocked Bobby Pacquiao out."
While Soto lost the Lorenzo fight, it was not really a loss since he was dominating the bout and on the verge of knocking his foe out when referee Joe Cortez stepped in and reprimanded Soto for hitting while Lorenzo was down.
Still, Roach said there’s nothing he could do since the marquee names are fully booked.
"If Valero won’t be available, then I guess we’ll go for Soto," added Roach, who should discuss the matter with Pacquiao next week during the boxer’s short visit to the US.
Valero, who has a perfect 24-0 win-loss record with 24 knockouts, has a pending application for license to fight in the state of Nevada owing to a medical condition.
While Valero has been cleared to fight in Texas, Arum wants the Pacquiao fight to take place in Nevada, particularly at a 7,500-capacity venue inside Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
Arum said Soto, based in Tijuana, has been placed on stand-by.
By Nick Giongco
Even top trainer Freddie Roach is baffled by reports over the different names that have been cropping up as Manny Pacquiao’s opponent in November.
"A few days ago, (Top Rank head) Bob Arum called me and said it’s going to be (Edwin) Valero," said Roach yesterday as he was winding up in his training duties at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Suddenly, the name of Humberto Soto is being mentioned and Roach could not help but express his disappointment over the preference for the Mexican warrior over Valero, the unbeaten Venezuelan knockout king.
But before Roach said he understands the difficulties in signing up the best fighter available right now.
"All of them have scheduled fights," said Roach, referring to the match-ups that will take place in the coming months that will determine who gets the biggest chance of landing a megabuck Pacquiao fight in 2009.
Roach’s first preference, Ricky Hatton of England, will face Paul Malignaggi in November as in the case with Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, Joel Casamayor of Cuba, Nate Campbell of the US and Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic.
Marquez will make his debut at lightweight against Casamayor, while Campbell defends his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization 135-lb titles against Guzman, also making his first appearance at lightweight, also on the very same night Marquez and Casamayor slug it out.
Roach said he had told Arum about his opinion about Valero, who is a more attractive opponent that Soto, "who just lost."
Soto was handed a disqualification defeat against Francisco Lorenzo of the Dominican Republic underneath Pacquiao’s manhandling of David Diaz last June 28 and while he is also the one who knocked out Bobby Pacquiao last year in New York, "nobody remembers anymore that he knocked Bobby Pacquiao out."
While Soto lost the Lorenzo fight, it was not really a loss since he was dominating the bout and on the verge of knocking his foe out when referee Joe Cortez stepped in and reprimanded Soto for hitting while Lorenzo was down.
Still, Roach said there’s nothing he could do since the marquee names are fully booked.
"If Valero won’t be available, then I guess we’ll go for Soto," added Roach, who should discuss the matter with Pacquiao next week during the boxer’s short visit to the US.
Valero, who has a perfect 24-0 win-loss record with 24 knockouts, has a pending application for license to fight in the state of Nevada owing to a medical condition.
While Valero has been cleared to fight in Texas, Arum wants the Pacquiao fight to take place in Nevada, particularly at a 7,500-capacity venue inside Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
Arum said Soto, based in Tijuana, has been placed on stand-by.
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