By Rick Reeno
Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, advised BoxingScene.com that he's very close to finalizing Manny Pacquiao's fight on December 8th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Arum expects to have a deal in place by the end of the week, and the press conference has been scheduled for next Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California.
"Yes he will fight on December 8th. Right now we are finalizing with the opponent and with Manny. By the end of the week, we'll definitely have the deal done. We'll have a press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday," Arum told BoxingScene.com.
While Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39KOs) has been pushed as the frontrunner, at least by his promoter Fernando Beltran, it appears that WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (29-0, 12KOs) is still in the race. Bradley won a controversial twelve round decision over Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38KOs) in June.
Until the negotiations are finalized, Arum will not comment on which of the two fighters has the edge to land Pacquiao.
"We’re just about there, with the opponent and with Pacquiao," Arum said.