TOP Rank chairman Bob Arum is arriving in Manila next week in hopes of reaching an agreement on Manny Pacquiao's opponent for his projected ring return this November.
Arum is coming over with wife Lovee for a week-long stay primarily to settle the next career move of the 33-year-old boxing superstar following his shock split-decision loss to American Timothy Bradley last May.
Bradley, who wrested from Pacquaio the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, remains an option as possible opponent of the Filipino southpaw for his scheduled November 10 fight. The Pacman has the right to accept or reject the rematch clause in the original fight contract.
A fourth meeting with Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez is also being considered, according to Arum, who also didn’t hide his interest in possibly renewing talks with the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the unbeaten American fighter was released from jail last Friday.
The brash-talking Mayweather Jr. reportedly has a new promoter in celebrated rapper and friend 50 Cent. His last six fights were promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, the rival outfit of Top Rank with whom Arum isn’t seeing eye-to-eye.
“I think with 50 Cent representing Mayweather and him having confidence in his own promoter, and of course, we’re representing Pacquiao as his promoter, I think that traditional negotiations would take place and we’d get this thing done,” said Arum in an interview with BoxingScene.
Arum added, “I would think that it would come without a lot of baggage that Golden Boy brings to negotiations, issues that don’t really affect fighters, but relate to business aspects of promoting.”
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