By Robert Morales
It was no surprise Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Friday did not go directly to jail. Instead, a Las Vegas judge allowed him to pass go so he can collect a lot more than the $200 you get in Monopoly.
Such is the way celebrities are treated.
Mayweather's lawyer, Richard Wright, on Friday requested Mayweather's 90-day jail sentence for a domestic violence conviction be delayed until June 1 so Mayweather can fulfill a prior obligation to fight May 5 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He was slated to begin the term Friday.
This at least slightly opens the door for a possible fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in May as a prelude to Mayweather starting his sentence, but very few insiders expect the fight to happen.
Top Rank Inc. chairman Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, already was going to the Philippines next week to speak with Pacquiao about the four names given Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, regarding Pacquiao's next opponent. They are Timothy Bradley, Lamont Peterson, Juan Manuel Marquez and Miguel Cotto.
Arum now will be talking to Pacquiao about Mayweather. But, as usual, there are some conditions.
"Well, if the question is May 5, no, that is not viable," Arum said Friday. "But the end of May might be viable."
Arum said the end of May would give the cut Pacquiao suffered in his last fight against Marquez, on Nov. 12, more time to heal so he can begin sparring.
"Also because we want the opportunity to get started constructing in Las Vegas a temporary stadium on the old Frontier property," Arum said. "We could buy three extra weeks we would need to put it up. MGM is a great property, but it's only 16,000 seats. If we have an opportunity for 40,000, that is a big difference."
Arum was asked how terrific it would be to finally get this fight done as it has been a long time coming, complete with previously failed negotiations.
"If you go by what fight do fight fans want to see most, it's this fight," he said. "There is no question about it. If we can get it done, that's fine. If we can't, we will do it in November."
Golden Boy Promotions has promoted Mayweather's past few fights. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said he does not believe Arum is serious about trying to make Mayweather-Pacquiao for May or any other month.
"My only comment is for those who are still drinking the Top Rank Kool-Aid," Schaefer said. "I'm just tired of Bob Arum's sh*t. Arum is full of sh*t. He doesn't want the fight. Next question."
It's already been widely reported that Mayweather plans to announce his opponent next week, according to Floyd's adviser and CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Leonard Ellerbe. If that's the case, then it won't be Pacquiao as the two sides have yet to begin negotiations. WBC junior middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvaerz, and former champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, are two of the candidates in the running to fight Mayweather, according to Schaefer.
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