Bob Arum proposes four options to set up Manny Pacquiao’s fight
Top ranked promoter, Bob Arum, will be flying to Philippines on Sunday to meet the Filipino boxing star, Manny Pacquiao. The promoter will present Pacquiao four possible opponents for his next fight.
"I'll sit with Manny and explain everything to him, tell him what I think each of these fights would do on pay-per-view," Arum told ESPN.com on Wednesday. "We'll talk about what (trainer) Freddie (Roach) thinks and about what (Top Rank matchmaker) Bruce
(Trampler) thinks. Then I'll let Manny make the decision on which opponent he wants to fight, which I am sure he will do while I am there."
"Besides the opponent, the other thing we need to discuss is whether he'll fight in May or June," Arum said.
Surprisingly, Mayweather is not among the potential options. Mayweather pleaded guilty in a domestic abuse case, and with him currently serving his 90-day's sentence, he is less likely to have preparation time to face Pacquiao.
Arum will convince his client to mull over the four options and give consent to fight one of the opponents he has considered for Pacquiao's next.
He will also be there with Pacquiao doing a commercial for Hennessy cognac.
However, Mayweather had previously announced that he would like the fight to be on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but his sentencing dashed the hopes for this.
According to the sources, the possible opponents include Marquez, Cotto, Bradley, and Peterson.
Marquez appears to be the most natural and closest rival for Pacquiao.
In their last fight, the controversial majority decision that favoured Pacquiao helped him retain the welterweight belt, and Pacquiao has a 2-1 lead over his staunch opponent.
Bardley is another option whom Pacquiao can potentially face.
He is more of an obscure fighter and never known as a crowd puller. Nevertheless, he can give Pacquiao a tough time since he is undefeated and many pundits consider him more favourable than Peterson.
Peterson can be on Pacquiao’s radar as well.
He recently won the controversial split-decision fight against Amir Khan. Arum believes that Peterson is on the high after the victory and might attract substantial ticket sales in Washington DC to say the least.
Cotto can also be pitted against Pacquiao.
This guy was the fighter to watch back in 2009, when he stopped Pacquiao in the 12th round of the 2009 welterweight title bout.
The Mayweahter-Pacquiao fight was the most anticipated fight, but it now seems to be marred as an impractical idea.
However, the fight could take place later in November this year. It is conditioned by Mayweather’s consent.
Arum expressed his distress over Mayweather’s sentencing and his client. He advised Mayweather to serve his sentencing peacefully, without landing into yet another trouble or controversy.
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