Pacquiao moving to heavier class?

Los Angeles, California – Is Manny Pacquiao ready to invade the talent-laden pool of featherweights?

Fresh from his three-round stoppage of Mexican challenger Emmanuel Lucero for another successful title defense, the lone reigning Filipino world champ seems to be in a class above his class and may be headed to the 126-pound division.

The 24-year-old Pacquiao, who retained his IBF superbantamweight crown, will likely come home to a hero’s welcome and probably call on the President when he, wife Jinky and his entourage leave for Manila Tuesday.

The day after the one-sided contest at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Pacquiao met with his American promoter Murad Mohammed together with business manager Rod Nazario to discuss the next fight.

"Si (Marco Antonio) Barrera ang sunod na kalaban," he said as he looked forward to another megabuck contest. (Related story by Joaquin Henson on A-22).

Although the historic venue rocked and roared with ecstatic fans during the comeback fight of a rusty Fernando Vargas who wore down a timid Fitz Vanderpool in six rounds, it was the Filipino champ who came up with a clinical and decisive win.

Displaying ring savvy and experience over the outclassed challenger who had to bob and bend so low and weave in defense in the early going, Pacquiao unleashed powerful body shots and combinations before unloading a devastating left hand to the chin.

"He was way too low," he was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times which came out with the account of the fight in a box alongside the main story on the Vargas-Vanderpool clash.

Referee Jose Cobain stepped in to shield Lucero, who turned his back on Pacquiao, from further damage as he wobbled on the ropes and the bout was over in 48 seconds of the third round.

"Dapat lang itigil dahil wala na siya sa sarili. Mabigat ang follow-up ko," said Pacquiao. There were some protests in the post fight interview from Lucero’s trainer Fermin Sencion of the Dominican Republic since they had hoped Lucero would tire out the reigning champ in the middle rounds by working on the body and go for the kill late in the fight.

But later he said it was a fair decision. "He is a great champion and my boy learned a lot in this fight, he gained so much experience fighting a great champ," he said.

The Davao-based slugger, who improved his record to 37-2-1 (28 knockouts), immediately left the venue and viewed the replay of the contest over HBO in the residence of Nazario’s nephew, then celebrated the night with his handlers.

"Great fight," said HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant, a good friend of Pacquiao’s who worked the coverage in a booth a few feet away from the ringside audience that included Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone.

Now the Filipino, who has to overcome a blood test controversy late in training, will take a few weeks’ rest and await the result of negotiations for his next fight, with Barrera top on the list.

Barrera, 27, a mercurial Mexican hard-hitter known as the " Baby Face Assassin" is a four-time world champion. The Iztacalco, Mexico native is currently ranked No. 1 featherweight contender by the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization and No. 3 by the IBF.

"Hindi ako takot sa kanya. Tiyak magandang laban," said Pacquiao.