De la Hoya, Roach due; Soto insists on Barrera

Freddie Roach and Oscar de la Hoya, two noted boxing figures with links to Manny Pacquiao, are due here in about two to three weeks but for separate reasons.

Roach, who had openly batted for Golden Boy Promotions over Top Rank as his ward’s promoter, is coming over to film a lucrative beer commercial along with the Filipino boxing icon and Mexican legend Erik Morales, according to Boxingconfidential.com.

But Roach is expected to use the trip to sit down for a heart to heart talk with Pacquiao to clear the air on various boxing topics.

On the other hand, De la Hoya, according to the boxing website, will be here to personally oversee the preparations for Golden Boy’s World Cup: Mexico vs the Philippines, a boxing event which pits some of the finest boxers from both countries slated on March 4.

But De la Hoya is also expected to meet with Pacquiao to finally set the record straight with regard to the latter’s decision to pick Top Rank over Golden Boy as his new promoter.

Golden Boy, according to the report, will stay in the Philippines for a couple of weeks and, sources added, is even scheduled to visit Malacañang for a courtesy call on President Arroyo.

Pacquiao found himself locked in a promotional tussle after signing with Golden Boy last September and then sealing a deal with Top Rank right after he demolished Morales for the second straight time in the last part of their trilogy last November.

Meantime, the World Cup will feature three world title bouts, including the Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista-Ponce de Leon clash for the WBO 122-lb title. There will also be four six-rounders, now being finalized by Golden Boy Promotions, Sammy Gello-ani’s SGG Promotions and ALA Promotions.

Bautista, with a 21-0 record, including 16 KOs, is the No. 1 ranked contender to De Leon, who packs a 30-1 record, including 28 knockouts.

In another development, Humberto Soto challenged Marco Antonio Barrera to face him next as stipulated at the World Boxing Council convention in the event Barrera does not defend against Pacquiao.

There has been talk of Barrera facing Juan Manuel Marquez next, but Soto stressed that he’s not stepping aside. Barrera is set to take on Marquez on March 17.

"I am first and if he doesn’t want to defend against me he should renounce the title so I can fight for it against the highest available contender," said Soto in an interview with Fightnews.com. "I am not afraid of him, nor do I avoid anybody. I am ready for the best but they are the ones who don’t want to face me. If he (Barrera) is afraid of me he should just give up the title."

Earlier reports said Soto loomed as Pacquiao’s next opponent with the Gen. Santos native’s rematch with Barrera now virtually off and Edwin Valero not yet ready to face the Filipino champion.

Soto, the No. 2 contender in the World Boxing Council, has recently signed up with Top Rank and might have won the right to face Pacquiao in April.

According to sources, if Marquez were to fight Barrera, the WBC might be forced to strip Barrera of the WBC super featherweight belt. Since Pacquiao is the number one contender to the championship and the WBC ordered a purse bid late last year, which it then suspended due to the promotional chaos surrounding Pacquiao, the Filipino would then likely be ordered to fight the No. 2 contender to the WBC super featherweight championship, who is Soto. — Abac Cordero and Dante Navarro