The saga continues in the much-anticipated prospect of a superfight between boxing’s best: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
While Pacquaio has been the one saying he was ready to fight the undefeated boxing great in the past few years, this week is different. Mayweather is now calling out the Filipino superstar to make the bout happen.
In two tweets on Tuesday afternoon (January 10), Floyd made it clear that he wants to fight Pac-Man on his previously announced fight date of May 5th at the MGM in Las Vegas.
“Manny Pacquiao I’m calling you out let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see,” he wrote (@FloydMayweather). “My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk.”
So far, there’s no word out of Manny’s camp.
However, boxing analysts believe that Manny’s promoter Bob Arum has no interest in making the long awaited fight happen at all. Instead, he pushing for Pacquiao to face Juan Manual Marquez for the fourth time, following their November meeting which was decided in a controversial decision. Other possible fights include a rematch against Miguel Cotto, or a fight with junior welterweight titleholders Lamont Peterson or Timothy Bradley Jr.
“We’re fighting in June, one of the four guys,” Arum told ESPN.com last week. “My mission is to go over to the Philippines and talk about these four guys. If Manny feels he wants to go in May, he will tell me. I want to make sure Manny’s cuts are healed. We won’t fall under this kind of pressure. June is much more likely for Manny’s fight, not May.”
Mayweather was due to begin serving an 87-day sentence last Friday (January 7), after he pleaded guilty to reduced charges in his domestic violence case in late December. But, Mayweather’s attorney has successfully gotten his sentence delayed until June 1st, citing that the boxer has a contractual obligation for a fight at the MGM Grand, which he estimated would pour more than $100 million into the ailing Las Vegas economy.
Now, Mayweather will be free to fight on May 5th. But, right now, he has no opponent, and he wants it to be Pac-Man … which is likely to be the biggest match-up and highest earning in boxing history.
Other options include junior middleweight titlist Saul “Canelo” Alvarez — who is one division above Mayweather, the welterweight titlist — and lightweight Robert Guerrero, who is two divisions below.
According to ESPN, Arum talked about Pacquiao fighting on May 5 to take the spot of Mayweather when news surfaced that he was to be jailed last week. But, the next day, when Mayweather’s sentence was delayed, Arum said Pacquiao would probably have to fight in June, blaming that on a cut Pacquiao suffered in his November fight with Marquez as the reason — even though a cut taking more than six months to heal is unheard of.
Stay tuned…
