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by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum doesn’t know whether the latest ratings of the World Boxing Council which elevated “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao to No.1 contender status in the welterweight division “means anything” in terms of a possible fight against champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard - “I don’t know whether that means anything. I have no idea whether we can move forward with Mayweather” pointing out that Mayweather is also the WBA super welterweight champion.”
Arum suggested - “let’s see what he (Mayweather) does as far as vacating titles or whatever. So unless we know what he’s going to do there is no sense getting excited.”
Following his outstanding performance against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in Macau last October 24 when he won the WBO International welterweight title, Pacquiao has also been elevated to No.1 in its latest rankings behind champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley who won a bitterly criticized split decision over Pacquiao last June.
As for Pacquiao’s planned April 12 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Arum said its still the same three opponents they’ve been talking about – a rematch with Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, a fifth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez or a showdown with Pacquiao’s former sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov.
Arum said - “there’s nothing close to getting done. We have talked to all the opponents and spoke to Manny and he decides who he wants to go with.”
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told us “nothing has been decided as yet. We will do that after Christmas.”
In the meantime Pacquiao is spending time with wife Jinkee and their four kids as well as as attending to the needs of his constituents in Sarangani province which he represents in Congress.
