All the talk about Manny Pacquiao facing guys like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley or Antonio Margarito is driving Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum nuts.
“It?s silly,” Arum told the Bulletin yesterday when asked about recent reports linking Pacquiao?s name to future fights with some of the most recognizable names in the star-studded welterweight division.
“Look, Manny has to win first (against Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas) and we?ll see after that fight what to do next,” said Arum, whose promotional outfit Top Rank holds exclusive rights to Pacquiao?s fights.
“The priority is (beating) Ricky Hatton then we?ll have the whole of the summer and fall to decide on who to fight next and we?ll consult with (trainer) Freddie Roach and (Top Rank matchmaker) Bruce Trampler.
“We would all make an intelligent decision (on this matter) and as of this time I won?t bother Freddie about who Manny will face after Hatton.”
The opinions of Roach and Trampler will weigh heavily when Team Pacquiao and Top Rank eventually decide who, where and when to fight next.
Arum?s statements only imply that the seventy-something Harvard-educated lawyer is not looking past the British banger, whose relentless aggression ? ringsiders believe ? could pose problems for the Filipino southpaw.
Meanwhile, all is set for the press tour of England next week for the Pacquiao-Hatton slugfest, Arum said.
“I will be meeting up with Manny in Los Angeles and we?ll fly to London on Friday (Feb. 26) and he?s going to be filmed while in London visiting Westminster Abbey and the Philippine Embassy.”
The following day, Team Pacquiao will proceed to Manchester ? which is Hatton?s hometown ? to hold a press conference and then back to London for another press conference before flying to New York for another media gig.
Pacquiao will also be joined by Roach and training assistant Buboy Fernandez, adviser Mike Koncz and lawyer Franklin Gacal in the UK trip.
Pacquiao will immediately buckle down to training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood once he arrives in Los Angeles.
Pacquiao presently weighs 155 lbs and is not bothered that he?ll experience difficulty going down to 140 lbs, the agreed weight limit for their scheduled 12-rounder at the MGM Grand.
