Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has let a Bob Arum induced deadline pass and a mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao is in critical condition if not dead for November 13th.
During a 2:00 A.M. (CT) conference call, Arum was careful not to criticize Mayweather, saying,”he must have very valid reasons for not responding,” said Arum.
Arum stated what Mayweather has given up is his right to exclusive negotiating with Pacquiao, and that Arum was “moving on” this coming week with talks with both Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.
Arum said talks with either of these opponents could be concluded in 10 days but if during that time Mayweather says he wants the fight it is still his to have.
Arum revealed that he went through an intermediary, Ross Greenburg of HBO, to negotiate with Team Mayweather’s Al Hayman and that he had no direct dealing with Mayweather or anyone else but HBO’s Greenburg.
The conference call lasted approximately 45 minutes.
Arum said a Pacquiao vs. Margarito fight could end up in Monterrey, Mexico while a Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight could end up either in Las Vegas, NV or Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, TX.
Arum believes a reason Mayweather didn’t respond by midnight is his concern for the legal problems his trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather is having. His court date for assaulting a female boxer is in early August.
OPINIONS
EL PELON in Uptown Dallas: “I stayed up to listen to the conference call. It was interesting but unprofessional for Mayweather to not even respond.”
MIKE G in Addison: “Mayweather still has about 10 days and if he responds we can still have a November fight with Pacquiao so I’m hopeful this will still happen.
SONNY in North Dallas: ” Realistically, it sounds like Pacquiao vs. Cotto in November in Dallas. Pacquiao vs. Mayweather could happen in 2011 though.
