MANILA, Philippines – Unless Floyd Mayweather Jr. interferes, Manny Pacquiao will soon have to choose between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito
?I have to discuss with Manny who he prefers then get everything put together,? said Top Rank chief Bob Arum during Friday?s teleconference, portions of which were relayed to The STAR by top-shelf publicist Fred Sternburg.
Arum said it?s all up to Pacquiao whether he wants to face Cotto a second time or take on Antonio Margarito for the first time. Either way, he gets a crack at an eighth world title in eight different weight divisions.
?It will be Manny?s decision.I do not have a preference.I do not want to prejudice the situation.I want Manny to decide,? said Arum, adding that a deal with either Cotto or Margarito could be made in 10 days.
But Arum made it clear that in that short period, Mayweather can still come up and say he wants the Super Fight with Pacquiao. But that?s as long as Arum can wait because there are certain time limitations to consider.
?He (Pacquiao) is a very intelligent guy and knows what the considerations are and whomever he selects is who we will go after and make the fight,? said Arum, generous enough to give Mayweather until last Friday to decide.
?Because I am dealing with another situation.I am representing a fighter who is also a congressman.He has legislative duties and commitments in the Philippines and I have really short windows to do various aspects of the promotion,? said the legendary promoter.
Once the fight is sealed, either between Cotto or Margarito, a major press conference will take place early August.
?We will have to do press conferences a lot further out because he will be training for the fight while being a congressman and he will have to fit his training into the legislative sessions.I understand that the congress sits three days a week,? Arum explained.
Two months after he defeated Shane Mosley and made millions, Mayweather had until Friday to call the fight, but nothing came out of the Mayweather camp, and therefore Pacquiao had to look for a new opponent.
?The fight that we want to do is Mayweather. We never said any different or acted any different.Manny wants to and has to fight in November.So we have to proceed in getting him an opponent and wrapping up a fight,? said Arum.
