That Floyd Mayweather “retirement” comment has left Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum more bemused than confused.
In the wake of the confusing conclusion to the Miguel Cotto Yankee Stadium victory over crippled WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, it was easy to read between the lines to tell that Arum sees the Mayweather-Pacquiao negotitations steaming forward and probably resulting in a Nov. 13 date in Las Vegas for the long anticipated super fight.
First, the 78 year old Arum neatly deflected what may have been Li’l Floyd’s wraped idea of wit or whimsy in saying that he may quit the ring for a year or two.
“That’s the Make A Wish (charity) video,” Arum said. “I’m used to Floyd saying a lot of things like that. Floyd says a lot of things and I chose to believe differently.
“Mayweather says a lot of things that he does not believe.
“It could have been just spur of the moment. him saying he was taking a year or two years off. I’m sure, if it is true, he will make that statement in the proper way which is to put out a press release.”
Then Arum dropped his strongest hint yet that the Big Bout will land in Nevada and not in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium where it’s been believed that Jerry Jones would butt head with the casino interests for the huge attraction.
Arum said something about “not minding putting a fight where I can sleep in my own bed.”
Then the head of Top Rank said: “I know things that you don’t and I know Las Vegas will go the last mile to get the fight for which Las Vegas is the frontrunner.”
I ask you, does Arum sounds like a promoter who thinks Mayweather-Pacquiao will crash and burn a second time?
But Arum being Arum he did toss in one minor slap at Mayweather.
“I had some long conversations with Manny and his first goal is the Mayweather fight. But the drug testing was agreed to and so the ball is in Mayweather’s court. Really now, the ball is in his court.
“But, if I was Mayweather, I wouldn’t want to fight Pacquiao, either.”
