Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. is pitting Manny Pacquiao against his brother's conqueror, Mexican Humberto Soto on Oct. 6 and that the "leading candidate" for the site is Vancouver, Canada.

Arum made the confirmation with boxingconfidential.com's Michael Marley, ending weeks of speculation on Pacquiao's next opponent.

"We will make an announcement on Manny next Monday or Tuesday regardless of the result of the other situation," Arum said, referring to the ongoing mediation talks between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which also claims the right to Pacquiao's fights.

If the mediation talks turn out to be successful, it will open the door for Pacquiao to fight against top-rated boxers like Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Joan Guzman, who are all under Golden Boy Promotions.

Marquez and Pacquiao fought to a bloody draw in 2004, while Barrera is aching to avenge his November 2003 knockout loss at the hands of the General Santos City fighter.

Soto is fresh from a seventh-round stoppage of Bobby Pacquiao early this month at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Pacquiao's last fight was held in mid-April when he scored an eighth round knockout of Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. *CPT

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