June 9 or 16 next fight for Pacquiao

June 9 or 16 next fight for Pacquiao By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated January 09, 2012 12:00 AM Comments (1) SHARE: facebook yahoo! buzz MANILA, Philippines - Bob Arum is looking at June 9 or June 16 as the date of Manny Pacquiao’s next fight. For the Top Rank chief and promoter of boxing’s hottest star, it may be the right time. But to some, it may be a little too late. “Medyo matagal kapag June,” said Pacquiao’s legal adviser, Atty. Franklin Gacal, yesterday. But since Floyd Mayweather is fighting on May 5, following the suspension of his jail term from January to June, then there’s no other choice. Mayweather is looking at Canelo Alvarez and Robert Guerrero as his next opponent. “If Floyd has got a lock on May 5 in Las Vegas, then that leaves us with no other choice but to fight in June. Mr. Arum knows that,” Gacal added. Pacquiao also wants to fight in May. In fact, he said he wants Mayweather as his next opponent so the fans can get the fight they want, the fight they deserve, and is willing to get the smaller share of the purse just to get it done. But Arum said the other day, as news of Mayweather staying out of jail broke out, that Pacquiao should consider fighting later than May. Arum said Pacquiao may need a little more time so the cut he suffered in the fight against Juan Manuel Marquez last November fully heals. If Pacquiao fights in June, that’s seven months after his last, a close and controversial decision against Marquez. Pacquiao fought Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito eight months apart in 2010, and was busiest in 2008 when he did Marquez, Ricky Hatton and Oscar dela Hoya all in nine months. The four names that Arum gave to Freddie Roach remain the same, and Pacquiao needs to choose from among Miguel Cotto, Tim Bradley, Lamont Peterson or Marquez. Pacquiao said he will fight Marquez a fourth time if he is guaranteed $28 million. Some say Arum doesn’t want Pacquiao vs Mayweather to happen, ever, even if the 80-year-old promoter had said the superfight can take place in November this year. But not May. He also said the other day it’s not wise to hold Pacquiao vs Mayweather at the MGM Grand in May because of the limited sitting capacity of close to 17,000. Arum had mentioned the plan of putting up a temporary arena along Las Vegas Blvd., one that could house close to 40,000 fans. But the plan needs more time to materialize. Pacquiao has fought twice in Dallas where the Cowboys Stadium can accommodate a live audience of more than 100,000. Vegas won’t let that happen – again. Besides, Vegas is the boxing capital, the gambling capital of the world, and there’s no place on earth that could match its excitement, with all its casinos and the millions to generate. If it’s Pacquiao vs Mayweather, it has to be Vegas – period. So, it seems that Pacquiao will fight in June, in Vegas, but not against Mayweather. Arum knows best. :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=766175&publicationsubcategoryid=69