mukhang tuloy na to.. sana wag nang umatras si Mayweather!

Arum makes U-turn, wants Pacquiao-Floyd Jr in 2012 - GMA News Online - The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere


Bob Arum is suddenly singing a different tune. The Top Rank Promotions chairman has now set his sights on Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be Manny Pacquiao’s first major opponent in 2012.

Initially, Arum was planning a fourth meeting between Pacquiao and Marquez after another controversial ending in their November 12 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Filipino boxing star eked out a highly-disputed majority decision over his long-time Mexican foe.

But all that has changed.

“I think our first choice is to do Mayweather, and our second choice is (Juan Manuel) Marquez,” said Arum, while presiding over Miguel Cotto’s open media workout in New York City.

Cotto is in the final stages of his training camp for his grudge fight with Antonio Margarito for the World Boxing Association (WBA) light-middleweight championship.

Recent events revealed the camps of both Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. resumed talks to finally seal a deal that would make the mega-fight a reality.

And although Arum was once lukewarm on the idea of making the fight, which is being billed as the biggest in the history of boxing, the veteran promoter is not about to stand on its way right now.

“We want Manny to fight Floyd, he is our first priority. If Floyd isn’t available or the negotiations fall through, we will go after (Juan Manuel) Marquez,” he said.

Arum added that interested third parties had already sent feelers of investing on the fight projected to cost a minimum amount of $100 million.

“We have different investor groups approaching us who want to do the fight, and we have time to sort it out,” said the Top Rank big boss.

But Oscar De La Hoya, of rival Golden Boy Promotions, belittled Arum’s statement on his Twitter account.

“Hahaha. Bob Arum is saying there are a bunch of investors he’s talking to try and make PAC vs. Mayweather. I can’t stop laughing,” said De La Hoya without further elaborating. — JVP, GMA News