MANILA, Philippines - Ilang beses nang nagparamdam si Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero para sa kanyang interes na makasagupa si Manny Pacquiao.
Sa kabila ng ilang ulit na ring kabiguang maitakda ang kanilang laban, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin sumusuko si Valero sa pag-asang makatagpo ang Filipino world seven-division champion.
“I’m ready to go up to whatever weight Manny wants in order to fight him and, furthermore, I will not require that he be tested for anything,” ani Valero sa panayam ng Fightnews.com.
Ang 28-anyos na si Valero ang kasalukuyang World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion at nagbabandera ng 27-0-0 win-loss-draw ring record tampok ang 27 KOs.
“I just want to get in the ring with Manny. Whoever beats Pacquiao becomes the top dog in boxing,” sabi ng Venezuelan KO king kay Pacquiao. “Pacman is my main objective for 2010.”
Ang WBC lightweight crown ay dating suot ng 31-anyos na si Pacquiao makaraang agawin ito kay David Diaz via ninth-round TKO noong Hunyo ng 2008.
Muli namang ipinakita ni Valero ang kanyang lakas nang talunin si challenger Antonio DeMarco via ninth-round TKO noong Pebrero 6.
“I think I proved against Antonio DeMarco that I can box as well as punch. It was definitely my best fight,” wika ni Valero sa naturang panalo.
Bukod kay Pacquiao, nasa listahan rin ni Valero sina Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz at Juan Manuel Marquez.
“He seems to have a bout already scheduled,” wika ni Valero kay Diaz. “Juan Manuel Marquez is a great fighter and it would make for an exciting bout. I really would like to face Juan Manuel.”
Si Pacquiao ay magdedepensa ng kanyang WBO welterweight title sa unang pagkakataon matapos maagaw kay Miguel Cotto at kalaban nga niya si Joshua Clottey sa Marso 13 sa Cowboy’s Stadium sa Arlington, Texas. (RUSSELL CADAYONA)