Arum loses hope for Pacman-Floyd bout
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is weary of convincing undefeated boxing star Floyd Mayweather Jr. to sign the contract and make the much anticipated match with Manny Pacquiao possible later this year.
"We have heard nothing from (Floyd)," Arum said as the self-imposed deadline set by Top Rank for the flamboyant welterweight to agree to the scheduled November 13 fight ends this weekend.
"But hey, it’s not the end of the world," added the 78-year old veteran promoter as quoted by USA Today. "If it doesn’t happen this year, hopefully it will happen next year."
The world, and the boxing world to be exact has been longing to to see the two of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters slug it out inside the ring, Arum admitted he will be disappointed itf the plan won’t materialize.
However, he said he won’t take it against Floyd Jr. and the rest of the Mayweathers if and when the bout considered by many as the biggest in boxing history won’t happen.
"I’m trying to rationalize it, and if it’s because he may be reluctant to fight now because of the problems his uncle (and trainer Roger Mayweather) has, then I understand it," Arum said.
Roger Mayweather, Floyd Jr’s long-time trainer, will be on trial by August after a battery charge involving a female boxer he once handled.
Meanwhile Arum has a plan B if in any case the Pacquiao-Mayweather match doesn’t materialize.
Top Rank big boss is open to a Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto II for the Puerto Rican’s World Boxing Association (WBA) light-middleweight crown, Arum is also leaning more on a showdown with former two-time world champion Antonio Margarito of Mexico.
Arum is curious at the prospect of having the fight in Monterrey, Mexico, thinking it will attract a lot of interest since it would be the first time Pacquiao would be fighting in a country most of its warriors the seven world division champion had been beaten in the past.
"They’ll go absolutely nuts for this," said Arum, well aware that Pacquiao has been dubbed the ‘Mexican Assassin,’ after beating the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Jorge Solis, Hector Velasquez and Oscar Larios.
"They have a new arena in Monterrey. The governor wants it, the city wants it, and Manny is not reluctant to fight a Mexican in Mexico."
What others are also reading:
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- Floyd best fighter according to ESPY, beats Pacquiao
