Pacland's Philippine Boxing Forum

MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA may have to wait for a while to get a crack on the People’s Champion and Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao.

Bob Arum, head of the Top Rank Promotions, told the mediamen after the “Grand Finale” fight between Pac-quiao and Mexico’s Erick Morales that his group is planning to arrange a fight between the Filipino and power-puncher Edwin Valero in Macau on March next year.

Valero, a native of Bolero Alto, Merida, Valenzuela, is the undefeated World Boxing Association super featherweight champion, boasting the world record of winning his first 18 fights by first round stoppage. He has a perfect 20-0 record, all by KOs.

Pacquiao, who demolished Morales in their third meeting at Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, via third round knockout, has joined the stable of Arum and signed a four-year deal.

Boxingscene.com reported that Pacquiao returned the $500,000 signing bonus issued by Oscar de la Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions where the General Santos City native signed a seven-fight contract prior his meeting with Morales.

The deal with de la Hoya was invalid, according to Arum because it was stipulated in his contract with Pacquiao for the third bout with Morales, that he was first in line to negotiate a deal, and had an exclusive time period to make a deal, up until January 2007.

Barrera, the reigning World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, is under the Golden Boy Promotions and now that Pacquiao is with the Top Rank, to see both fighters slug it out next year is now next to impossible.

The Pacquiao-Valero match could be an interesting fight to watch but the biggest money bout at 130-pounds would still be a rematch against Barrera, a man PacMan demolished in 2003. There are reports that Barrera has a March HBO pay-per-view date already on the calendar. WBC President Jose Sulaiman has ordered Barrera to face the winner of the “Grand Finale” match. Barrera has not fought a major opponent since 2004, when he met Erik Morales for the third time.

Another option for Pac-quiao could be IBF champion Joan Guzman, also undefeated and has great stamina, but not the hardest puncher at the weight. Humberto Soto, on a roll since beating Rocky Juarez in 2005. Soto is undefeated since 2002 and knocking opponents out cold. A very dangerous puncher and sometimes looks like a welterweight by the time of the fight. But experts say that Soto does not bring the biggest amount of dollars to the table.

A rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, another fighter in the stable of de la Hoya, would be a great opponent, because he has a decent Mexican following.

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