By Rey Danseco
 
World rated Bobby Pacquiao now becomes the only possible opponent among De La Hoya's list for reigning WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera on March 25 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, Executive Vice-president of World Boxing Association (WBA), told this writer in an interview from his office in Estado Aragua, Venezuela yesterday that the unbeaten WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz is not be available to fight Barrera on the proposed date.

The WBA official also confirmed that they hasn’t received any offer from Barrera’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who revealed that he will negotiate with Diaz to put the WBA 135-lb title against Barrera on his promotion.

“We don’t have an official petition yet,” said Mendoza who revealed for the first time the phrase, “I love the Philippines” after he visited the country twice in 1998 and 2002.

When asked if the Barrera-Diaz fight would be attainable, considering of the nearness of the schedule, Mendoza admitted,” It’s very difficult”.

The 38-year old official reasoned that the 22-year old Houston, Texas-native Diaz has on-going negotiations for the mandatory fight against Mongolia’s Lakva Sim, the same opponent whom he took the WBA throne with a unanimous decision win on July 17, 2004.

“We have a mandatory contender for the division, Lakva Sim from Mongolia,” said Mendoza.

De La Hoya told Mexico’s most respected sports newspaper Organizacion Editorial Mexicana of his intention to tap either Pacquiao, younger brother of Manny, or Diaz to fight Barrera.

Barrera’s anticipated bout on De La Hoya’s card has been postponed after IBF lightweight champion Jesus “Matador” Chavez suffered a torn muscle in his left bicep that required surgery, during his training last week. It will take him about six months to recuperate, according to Chavez’s manager Lou Mesorano.

Pacquiao’s handler, Rex “Wakee” Salud hasn’t yet talked with De La Hoya or with any representative regarding the proposed Barrera-Bobby Pacquiao fight.

If the fight takes place, Bobby would be given a chance to duplicate Manny’s victory against Barrera also become main attractions on the world stage under megabuck pay-per-view bouts in the United States.

The older Pacquiao has entered in the elite list of pound-for-pound ranking and earned millions of money in every succeeding fight after his one-sided win over Barrera.

Barrera is listed No. 4 Pound-for-pound in Ring Magazine, considered as bible of boxing, behind world champs Floyd Mayweather, Ronald “Winky” Wright and Manny Pacquiao.