MANILA, Philippines ? High above the classy lounge of a five-star hotel in Makati on Friday, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum picked up his phone, scrolled the address book and pressed the call button.
On the other line was his stepson and Top Rank president Todd Duboef, who gave Arum the lowdown on the burning issue of staging a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., a topic that?s been getting premium space in the papers, precious TV airtime and headlines on the Internet.
Arum was told that Golden Boy Promotions will very likely make a formal announcement of a May 5 showdown between Mayweather and fellow unbeaten puncher Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez of Mexico ?in a day or two,? a development that should allow the two camps to move forward.
?I am not going to lose sleep over this,? said Arum, who had gone the extra mile in making a superfight between Pacquiao and Mayweather happen for late-May or June 9.
On Thursday, Arum and Pacquiao went on record, saying the fight can happen if Mayweather gets himself a promoter who is willing to shell out his guaranteed purse because Arum will give him his.
Arum and Pacquiao argued that if Mayweather finds somebody who will provide the hefty guaranteed purse, they will share everything that will go to the pot on a 50-50 basis.
Sources of fat revenue include the pay-per-view, closed circuit viewing, international broadcast rights and gate receipts.
In the event a Mayweather-Alvarez is announced, Arum said he will concentrate on his June 9 show that will be headlined by the 33-year-old Pacquiao against one of four fighters being eyed as opponent.
On the list are Tim Bradley, Miguel Cotto, Lamont Peterson and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao said he is willing to give Cotto a rematch at 147 lbs because even though he had beaten the Puerto Rican star more than two years ago on a last-round stoppage, Cotto remains a livewire foe what with the acquisition of a new strategist.
Bradley, who is unbeaten and the world champion at 140 lbs, is also an attractive alternative.
Peterson was added on the strength of his upset win over Amir Khan, while Marquez remains in the hunt based on his strong showing against the Filipino in their rubber match last year.
Pacquiao and Arum will meet for the last time over lunch Saturday, hours before Arum returns to the US.
Arum, nonetheless, remains upbeat that a Pacquiao-Mayweather match can still take place in November.
