Tweet
Pacquiao-Mayweather Chances Slim for 2010 says Top Rank Boss
by Bob Velin, USA Today
With a Friday deadline looming, hopes for a Nov. 13 mega-fight between boxing superstars Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are all but dead, according to Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank, which represents Pacquiao.
Arum said Wednesday he doubts the 33-year-old Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) will agree to the fight — which could net each fighter $50 million — by Top Rank's self-imposed deadline Friday, or anytime this year.
But Arum said a very real possibility is a Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito matchup on Nov. 13 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Arum said Monterrey is intriguing because it has a new arena, and Pacquiao would not have to pay U.S. taxes, which he said amount to about 30%.
And Pacquiao, who has been called the "Mexican Assassin," because he's defeated most of the top Mexican challengers, is highly respected and well-liked in that boxing-crazy country.
"They'll go absolutely nuts for this," said Arum. "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."
Margarito, a Mexican who was suspended for a year in the U.S. for having an illegal substance in his hand wraps, is not licensed in the U.S., but never did lose his license to fight in Mexico.
Margarito is the top contender for the WBC light middleweight (154-pound) title vacated by Sergio Martinez, who is now the middleweight champion. Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) and Pacquiao (51-3-2, 39 KOs) would presumably fight for the 154-pound belt.
A win for Pacquiao would be in a record eighth different weight class. He's the only fighter ever to have won titles in seven different weight classes.
Arum said they have also been in contact with officials from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates about having the fight there. He said, however, he didn't know if anything would come out of those talks.
Arum said he's frustrated that the talks with Golden Boy, which represents Mayweather, have not resulted in the Mayweather-Pacquiao mega-fight being made. The talks have been under an HBO-imposed gag order.
"But 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 will go on trial in August on a battery charge involving a female boxer he once trained.
"We have heard nothing from (Floyd)," Arum said. "But hey, it's not the end of the world. If it doesn't happen this year, hopefully it will happen next year," possibly in May 2011.
Calls to Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's manager and close adviser were not returned.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxin...ces-slim_N.htm
Comment