Arum announces new prospective date for Mayweather - Pacquiao, updates on Pacquiao - Margarito venue
A lot of relevant news from Top Rank chief Bob Arum today. First, he’s set to meet with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones Wednesday to cement a deal for the Cowboys Stadium to host the upcoming November junior middleweight bout between Manny Pacquiao and former champion Antonio Margarito. The fight will be for the vacant WBC title belt, and will provide Pacquiao the opportunity to win a belt in a record-breaking eighth division.
Arum offered an explanation for the Texas venue: "Jerry Jones knows that north Texas has a huge Hispanic population, and, particularly, a large Mexican American population. So Margarito will be a tremendous draw, and, as you know, Pacquiao was already a tremendous draw.”
Arum was referring to an earlier bout between Pacquiao and Josh Clottey that took place at the Cowboys Stadium in March.
A statement recently attributed to Pacquiao acknowledged that he would be ready for Floyd Mayweather in November, but Arum has determined that the two won’t be getting into the ring until the spring. For one, a mega-fight of this stature needs adequate time to be promoted, and negotiations with Mayweather are still officially at a standstill.
Arum clarified the situation: “It's too late for the fall. So Pacquiao-Mayweather would be something in the spring. Floyd has not signed officially with King, but when he does, I'm sure that Don will talk to me and we'll work it out."
Arum was referring to recent developments between promoter Don King and Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather was wined and dined by the promoter last week, and attended his St. Louis card over the weekend. King made it clear that he wishes to add Mayweather to his stable. The developments have spurred a new bout of interest in the possibility of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, after Top Rank negotiations fell through with Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather a second time.
Margarito is still not permitted to fight in the United States, after having his licensed revoked in light of a hand-wrap incident before a Shane Mosley fight. Arum said that he does “not believe that Margarito will have a problem obtaining a license in Texas,” despite the fact that an earlier bid to get a license from Texas for a bout with Josh Clottey fell through.
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