Negotiations are in the final stages but it's almost certain that Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao will be defending his WBC International super-featherweight title against Mexico's Humberto Soto at GM Place on Oct. 6.

"We've almost finalized it. It's 99.5 per cent there," said Geoffrey Hughes, a Vancouver businessman who's been working with New York City promoter Lou DiBella and Top Rank boss Bob Arum to make the fight happen