Macau next stop for Pacquiao

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao’s next fight could come as early as March or April next year.

Not against Marco Antonio Barrera, but someone else. Not here in the United States, but in Macau.

A Team Pacquiao insider said Sunday that things are pointing that way especially after Bob Arum announced a four-year tie-up between Top Rank and Manny Pacquiao Promotions.

In Macau, Pacquiao will fight at the newly built Wynn Hotel.

Pacquiao destroyed Erik Morales inside three rounds Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center, and soon after people have started asking when his next fight would be.

Of course, most of them are looking forward to a big title bout between Pacquiao and Barrera, the reigning World Boxing Council champion in the 130-lb division.

Barrera has called on Pacquiao’s name as his next challenger. In fact, he has set a date for the rematch — March 11. Barrera was knocked down by Pacquiao in 11 rounds in 2003.

But Pacquiao hooking up with Top Rank may have shelved that promotion, despite the fact that the WBC has recently ordered the winner between Pacquiao and Morales to face Barrera.

If Pacquiao refuses, he can be stripped of his International super-featherweight title.

And he wouldn’t mind.

Barrera is being promoted by Oscar dela Hoya who doesn’t have an open line with Arum. They figured in a tug-of-war for Pacquiao, and the older, wiser Arum has won the battle.

"I think Manny’s gonna have two fights (probably against Erwin Valero or Joan Guzman) and then if Barrera’s still around then maybe we can go after him," said one of Pacquiao’s connections here.

Barrera, this early, is reportedly asking for a purse of $3 million.

"I don’t think he’s gonna get that yet," the insider said.

But in an interview with Boxingtalk.com the day after the victory, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach hinted that Barrera is next in line for the Filipino icon.

"That’s the fight (against Barrera) everybody wants to see. He wants to fight us, we want to fight them," said Roach.

He added: "That’s the natural next fight. I would like to give Barrera his shot, he has the belts and we want his belts."

Meanwhile, Guzman, the undefeated WBO (World Boxing Organization) junior lightweight champion, has offered to fight the Gen. Santos southpaw in March 2007.

In an open letter to Pacquiao, Guzman congratulated the 27-year-old Filipino champion for his emphatic victory over Morales, describing it as magnificent, stupendous and flawless then invited the celebrated fighter to a duel early next year.

"I have a title defense in my homeland in Dominican Republic on Dec. 18. Should I be successful in that bout, I have asked my team to work on the Guzman-Pacquiao fight in March 2007," said Guzman.

"There can be no doubt that you and I are the world’s best two fighters at 130 lbs. The question that must be answered is who is the better man. It’s a super fight and a fight fan’s dream," he added.