"I don’t fear anyone, bring them all to me," said Pacquiao, on the eve of his first training day under trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood Sunday (Monday in Manila).
Pacquiao, his younger brother Bobby and Z Gorres, kick off their training with a roadwork in the streets of Hollywood and the hills of Griffith Park Monday, all hoping to get into shape for a possible November fight. Also training in the gym are compatriots Gerry Balagbagan, Orlando Villaflor and Brian Viloria.
With the blockbuster duel between Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera reportedly stalled, Cuban Joel Casamayor’s name has been added into the fray, making for another round of wheeling and dealing among opposing management and big-time promotion outfits, according to Los Angeles-based writer Winchell Campos.
"Kahit sino," said Pacquiao, who also indicated that he is willing to go up again in weight just to meet either Casamayor or Morales, who campaign in the super-featherweight division.
"I still like to face Morales more than anyone. A rematch with Barrera is also just fine," said Pacquiao, who last fought in May with a controversial split draw decision against Juan Manuel Marquez.
The Filipino southpaw, however, admitted he doesn’t know much about Casamayor.
Team Pacquiao business manager Rod Nazario and Roach are actually not too interested in having the 33-year-old Casamayor, a former world champion, as Pacquiao’s next opponent.
Nazario said that a fight with Morales is the best option as the Mexican promises to be a huge draw especially when he gets to face Pacquiao, who now has a huge and loyal fans based in the US.
Moreover, Nazario noted that just like Pacquiao, Morales started out from the ranks of super-bantamweights, unlike Casamayor, who has consistently campaigned in the 130-pound division and even in the lightweight class.