Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao whose attempt to unseat incumbent congresswoman Darlene Antonino Custodio in the lone district of South Cotabato has apparently failed, can now concentrate on his boxing career.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today said Pacquiao “is fighting on October 6” and that he would choose from one of four opponents lined up for the devastating southpaw punching machine.

Arum indicated that he had to find out if former super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera “is still under contract or not” although Golden Boy Promotions insists he is. Arum made it clear he was “not going to deal with Barrera unless he shows us that there is no contract.” Arum indicated he was informed by Barrera that “he can do that (fight Pacquiao) but we’ll have to see.”

Arum disclosed that the handlers of Joan Guzman have told him today “they want the fight” and have shown Top Rank the documents that Guzman’s promoter Secuyan “have the right to make the deal for him” adding “ I don’t think that’s an issue.” He also said Guzman’s people had told him that Guzman’s injured hand which forced him to pull out of a May 26 lightweight title fight against Michael Katsidis would heal in time for him to begin training for an October 6 fight..

Arum also mentioned that if the October 6 fight is to be held in Macau then undefeated knockout artist Edwin Valero (22-0, 22 KO’s) “is a possibility and I understand (Akihiko) Honda wants to make that fight.” However, Arum pointed out that a fight against Valero could only be done outside the US where he has been barred from fighting following a severe motorcycle accident in 2001 which resulted in surgery to remove a blood clot. Valero failed an MRI due to brain scan irregularities in 2004 and was not allowed to fight in the US.

The last resort may well be Humberto Soto, the WBC super featherweight who won a title eliminator against Ivan Valle last August and is scheduled to fight Pacquiao’s younger brother Bobby on June 9 at Madison Square Garden. He is handled by Arum. However, Arum said Soto will have to first beat the younger Pacquiao to be considered.