By John F. McKenna (McJack)
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum will be meeting with WBO welterweight champion and Ring Magazine pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) in Los Angeles in early January to discuss Manny’s plans for 2012. Obviously one of the chief topics will be a possible match up between Pacquiao and undefeated WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s).
Previously it was revealed that the Mayweather camp had reserved the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for May 5, 2012. This of coursed did not set well with Arum or the Pacquiao camp because the venue for the fight is always part of the negotiating process which both fighters participate in. The venue for a fight is not just arbitrarily selected by one camp or the other without having first been discussed with the other camp. For that reason Arum did not take the Mayweahter camps original announcement seriously and pointed out that May 5 is the celebration for Cinco de Mayo.
In addition the Mayweather camp issued vague statements indicating that Floyd wanted to fight the “Little Fella” on May 5. It was assumed by many that the “Little Fella” was Pacquiao, but it could also mean that the Mayweather camp was being purposely vague and wanted to play mind games with both Arum and the Pacquiao camp.
In any case Arum is not going to be manipulated into a situation where Mayweather, who supposedly calls his own shots, begins the negotiating process by dictating when and where the Pacquiao – Mayweather fight is going to take place.
The Manila Standard broke a story that Mayweahter had accepted a plea bargain related to the domestic charges brought against him by the mother of his three children Josie Harris. Arum was hopeful that the judge will be lenient and was quoted as saying the plea bargain “will make it easier to get talks moving on a Pacquiao fight.”
Mayweather faces a $3,000 fine and anywhere from 2 days up to 18 months in jail. Arum pointed out that any negotiations for a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight will happen after the New Year.
The defamation lawsuit brought against Mayweahter by Pacquiao would still need to be worked out, although Pacquiao appears willing to compromise, having already agreed to take a smaller cut of the revenue from the proposed fight.
