2 Mexicans want to fight Pacquiao for WBC title

Two Mexican fighters want a shot at WBC International Super Featherweight champ Manny Pacquiao, after Freddie Roach, the Filipino pugilist's trainer, announced that the fight with South Korean In Jin Chi would not push through. One of the challengers, Juan Diaz, is even willing to stake his WBA Lightweight title. "If the Pacman is coming to Texas April 21, I believe we have the perfect opponent for him in one Juan Diaz, WBA lightweight champion," said Diaz's manager, Willie Savannah, in an email to fightnews.com. "I noticed that Pacquaio weighed 142 pounds on the night he fought Morales. Juan would be willing to consider putting his belt on the line against the great Pacman," Savannah added. "Pacman versus The Baby Bull [Diaz's ring monicker] would be a great attraction in Texas," Savannah said. "We are not the type of people to call boxers out, but this is a bout that would be one for the sake of boxing with two young guys putting it on the line." The other challenger, Miguel "El Anestesista" Huerta, wants to face Pacquiao, according to another fightnews.com report. Huerta, who won by TKO against Antonio Ramirez, said that it would be an honor to meet Pacquiao on the ring. "It would be an honor to mix it up with Manny," Huerta said in an interview with fightnews.com from his house in Los Angeles. Huerta has a win-loss-draw card of 23-7-0, with 16 knockouts. Huerta's manager, Frank Espinoza, agreed. "Huerta is an extremely hard puncher and I guarantee he'd give Manny all he can handle," Espinoza said. "I'm at my best right now. I'm completely focused and training like a champion. Manny won't be able to handle to my punch," Huerta said. Meanwhile, another fightnews.com report said Pacquiao would fly to Los Angeles before the end of February to start training for his April 21 fight at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. "We are going back to the Alamodome," Pacquiao told fightnews.com on Tuesday afternoon from his house in General Santos City. In the same report, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum said that hsi outfit would soon name Pacquiao's next opponent. Arum also confirmed that Pacquiao would run for public office in General Santos on May 14. Arum said that Pacquiao was chossing between the position of mayor or House representative. "I know it's going to be tough [in politics] but I am prepared," fightnews.com quoted Pacquiao as saying. But Arum said that the bout with In Jin Chi could still materialize either in September or October. Pacquiao won the biggest fight of his career at the Alamodome in November 2003 when he knocked out Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera. - GMANews.TV