By Robert Morales

Promoter Bob Arum on Tuesday said that he and his wife, Lovee, are leaving Saturday to the Philippines. Once there, Arum will talk to Manny Pacquiao about his next fight. The possibilities are a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, or a rematch with either Timothy Bradley or Miguel Cotto.

Arum said he expects to have a decision by a week from Friday, Aug. 10.

The topic of discussion was switched to 50 Cent, who has announced he is becoming a promoter and will team with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is due out of jail Friday. Since a bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao has not materialized through a couple of rounds of negotiations, Arum was asked what would happen if his Top Rank Inc. found itself in talks with 50 Cent for that fight.

Keep in mind that Golden Boy Promotions has promoted Mayweather's past six fights.

"Absolutely," said Arum, when asked if he thought that fight would get done under those circumstances. "I would think that it would come without a lot of baggage that Golden Boy brings for negotiations, issues that don't really affect fighters, but relate to business aspects of promoting.

"So I think with 50 Cent representing Mayweather and him having confidence in his own promoter, and of course we're representing Pacquiao as his promoter, I think that traditional negotiations would take place and we'd get this thing done."

Nothing From Schaefer

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, is in London this week for the Olympics. We tried to reach him by telephone, to no avail. We sent Schaefer an email, basically telling him what we wanted to talk to him about. The most important question was, does Schaefer think Mayweather would be foolish to abandon Golden Boy for 50 Cent even though Golden Boy seems to have done a good job for Mayweather.

Schaefer responded, but he didn't say anything.

"I have no comment on this," he wrote.  

Top Rank Chief: 50 Cent Good For The Sport

Arum said he likes the idea of 50 Cent becoming a promoter. He believes it could infuse more enthusiasm into the African American community as it pertains to boxing.

"Just like we did years ago when we energized the Hispanic American community, and now they are the leading fan base for boxing. And I think it can have a similar affect on the African Americans," said Arum, who said 50 Cent entering the promoter ranks is "very, very good for boxing."

Plan For Mayweather Release Unclear

Kelly Swanson, who does public relations work for Mayweather, was asked Tuesday if Mayweather is going to hold any kind of news conference or conference call upon his release.

In a text message, Swanson said she has yet to receive confirmation from Mayweather's camp as to what might take place.

Molina Prepares For DeMarco

John Molina didn't turn pro until he was 23. But he is now 29, so getting his first shot at a major world title is a more than a big deal for him. It's enormous. He will challenge Antonio DeMarco for his lightweight belt on Sept. 8 on the undercard of the Andre Ward-Chad Dawson super middleweight title bout in Oakland. Both fights will be televised by HBO.

"It's my shot at the brass ring," said Molina, of Covina, Calif. (in L.A. County). "DeMarco's will and determination is like that of no other, so I am really grateful for this opportunity."

The way both of these fighters bring it, this could be quite a hard-hitting bout once they collide.

"I don't take him lightly by any means; it's going to be the toughest fight I've ever had in my life," Molina said. "I think it's going to be an all-out war."

On paper, DeMarco (27-2-1, 20 KOs) would appear to be the favorite. He's the champion, and at 5-foot-10 is only a half-inch shorter than Molina, who typically has more of a height advantage. Molina, though respectable toward DeMarco, is unfazed.

"I think a lot of him," said Molina, who is 24-1 with 19 knockouts. "But at the end of the day, he's just a man with two arms and two legs like myself and has a common goal in life - his is to retain the world title, mine is to become world champion. Thinking of him as a fighter, I think he's champion for good reason.

"He showed his heart, brains, will and determination when he had the fight with (Jorge) Linares and I anticipate nothing less in the ring. But he's just another guy standing in the way of my dream."

The 26-year-old DeMarco, a southpaw out of Tijuana, won the vacant title with an 11th-round TKO of Linares this past Oct. 15 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. DeMarco was losing by six, six and eight points on the scorecards when he dramatically turned the tables on Linares. Therein lies the will and determination of which Molina spoke.

Molina talked about other aspects of this fight. Then he touched on an intangible that could work in his favor.

"I'm expecting my first child on Nov. 15, me and my wife," he said. "This is more fuel to the fire, man. This is the opportunity to change my life, in the ring."

His promoter, Dan Goossen, believes he is capable of pulling off the victory.

"We definitely believe he can do it and he's been looking great in training," said Goossen, whose brother, Joe, trains Molina. "He knows what he's worked so hard for and what's at stake.

Those attributes usually have a big influence on accomplishing your goals.

"What DeMarco has in advantages, John has in power. Very few people can withstand the big rights and lefts he throws." 

One more thing.

"I truly believe there is going to be a new champion," Molina said.

Goossen Scoffs at The Thought

There is no truth to the rumor that Goossen helped put together the Molina-DeMarco fight - almost a can't-miss for excitement - because of the notion that the main event between Ward and Dawson might be a yawner. 

"What I would say to some fans, one thing about Andre Ward fights, they are not boring," Goossen said. "He has been winning them one-sided, but he likes to fight. And what happens sometimes when you're banging out a 13-2 or 13-0 victory margin in a baseball game, I don't think it's boring, I think it's a dominating performance.

"He's very much a dominating type of fighter and he's always fighting, even when he's up by 12 runs. As it relates to Molina and DeMarco, that wasn't brought on board as the opening fight because of what anybody thought of Andre and Dawson. It was just brought on because it was a great lightweight championship for the fans and for the fighters."

Super Heavyweight a Hot Commodity

Dominic Breazeale, the super heavyweight for Team USA who lost Wednesday in London, has been boxing less than four years.

The former Division I college quarterback out of University of Northern Colorado not only has caught on quickly, he is basking in the glory of the hurt game.

In short, he likes doling out the pain.

"Every time I get in the ring, whether it's sparring or an actual amateur event - whatever it's going to be - I always look to hurt my opponent," he said during a recent training session.

"When I land a shot, it's going to hurt. It's not going to be just like, 'Oh, that was a tickle.' "

Regardless of Breazeale's showing in London, it seems like he is just the type of boxer that could help lead the U.S. back to prominence at the professional level. He is 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, and he is not fat at all.

Not only that, he is very gifted athletically and figures to keep improving. His trainer, John Bray, likes Breazeale's potential for the next level.

"Oh, absolutely, I definitely see him being successful in the pros," said Bray, a former amateur standout and pro from Van Nuys, Calif. "What it's going to take is for him to continue to be dedicated and focused and continue learning.

"Amateur boxing and pro boxing are two very different sports. I wouldn't say necessarily improve as much as get seasoned, gain that experience, being in the ring with good fighters. That's how he's going to get better."

Breazeale, of Alhambra, Calif., admitted he is blown away by the notion that he became an Olympian in such a short time.

Dedication has been one of the straws stirring the drink.

"Sometimes I think maybe if I had put as much hard work as I've put in the boxing world, if I would have done that in football, maybe I'd be in a different place," he said. "But the Lord works in mysterious ways and He gives you the tools you need to achieve and accomplish things you need to accomplish."

Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward likes what he hears about Breazeale.

"He is definitely what is needed for today," Steward said during a recent telephone conversation. "He's gotta be big. That  6-1 and 210, 220 pounds is just not going to get it. He is like the complete printout of what the American heavyweight dream can be."

But again, experience is the key. According to reports, Breazeale's lack of it showed in his loss to Magomed Omarov of Russia. Still, he's just 26.

"I wouldn't say jitters, it was just a matter of experience," Breazeale said afterward. "I only have 3 1/2 years under my belt and it definitely showed." 

Robert Morales covers boxing for the LA Daily News, The Press Telegram and BoxingScene.com.