The 32 year-old, who held the WBO title between 2008 and 2009 before being dethroned by Pacquiao’s next opponent Timothy Bradley, has finally decided to leave the 140 division behind following his loss to Lamont Peterson.
‘Rated R’ was halted in eight rounds by Peterson in Washington, but has now admitted that problems at the weight should have been address earlier as Holt prepares to share a ring with the formidable Pacquiao at the Wild Card.
“I will be in Pacquiao’s camp in March and I will be returning to the ring to fight at welterweight again like I had done earlier in my career.
“I wish I would have listened and made the jump after the Bradley loss back in ’09 as any fight that was above 140 since then I’ve won – but the fights at the 140lb limit I’ve lost. I was leaving most of my training and my legs in the sauna.”
Holt is hoping a good showing in sparring with Pacquiao will be enough for him to drum up interest from the main promotional players around after a proposed fight earlier in the year fell through.
“I was suppose to have my ring return in January, but my opponent sustained a hand injury in his preparation for our bout. That was the one concrete offer that was signed sealed and delivered, but hopefully something else will come from the Pacquiao camp.
“I’m not under any promotional contract at the moment, but hopefully the promoters hear about the good job I plan on doing with Pacquiao and then they would want to see me in action.
“I admit now that making 140 was my silent killer and inactivity didn’t help any either when I did have a promoter.
“Top Rank did well by me even with the negativity that’s surrounds them and their black fighters and I just won’t a chance to prove it,” he added.
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