Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is NOT The Plan, Says Arum
By Mark Vester
If Manny Pacquiao defeats Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, Top Rank's Bob Arum is not exactly running to match him with Floyd Mayweather Jr, who may return to the ring in the next few months.
Speaking with BoxingScene.com's Luis Sandoval, Arum said that he plans to match Manny with fighters who can generate more money and draw bigger crowds than Mayweather.
"Well, you know, first Manny Pacquiao has to beat Ricky Hatton, and secondly I'm not thrilled about Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather because there are other fighters who draw a lot better than Mayweather that if Pacquiao beats Hatton I would like to put Pacquiao [in] with [them]," Arum said.
The likely candidate for Pacquiao's next fight is WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, who does have a decent track record on pay-per-view, draws good crowds and will come at a much cheaper price than Mayweather - and Arum promotes both Cotto and Pacquiao. Last month, Arum told BoxingScene that he was very interested in matching Pacquiao and Cotto if the two of them win their upcoming fights. Cotto has a tough task ahead with IBF champ Joshua Clottey on June 13.
Arum is the second person on Manny's team to throw water on a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. A few weeks ago, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach was another boxing figure who voiced his displeasure with a potential clash against Mayweather. He doesn't think the two styles will produce a good fight.
"If we win I don't have a lot of interest in fighting Mayweather. Even if you beat him you look bad doing it. Mayweather is very skilled. I don't like his style - he's a runner but is a great boxer," Roach said.
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