MANILA, Philippines ? Top Rank big boss Bob Arum already has a date and venue for Manny Pacquiao?s next fight: April 16, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Arum?s next job is to find a suitable foe for the Filipino pound-for-pound king, something the Hall of Fame promoter is eyeing to name by the third week of this month after he confers with Pacquiao during the celebration of his 32nd birthday on December 17.
Arum told the Bulletin yesterday that he has the offer sheets of Shane Mosley and Andre Berto in hand and is keenly awaiting for the arrival of the offer sheet from Juan Manuel Marquez.
Todd DuBoef, who is the Top Rank president and Arum?s stepson, is holding talks with Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP). GBP has Marquez under its banner.
DuBoef, 43, has been working for Top Rank since 1993 and is being groomed to take over Arum owing to his work ethic and keen business sense.
Arum is arriving in the Philippines on Dec. 14 with his wife Lovee and aside from his presence in Pacquiao?s birthday bash, he will also take the opportunity to close out a deal for Pacquiao?s fight next year.
?In the end, it?s going to be Manny?s decision,? said Arum. ?We are going to discuss the economics but he will make the call. He?s the one fighting.?
Mosley has the inside track since Arum has started the initial phase of the negotiations since last month but Arum is not counting out Marquez. Berto appears to be a longshot since only hardcore boxing fans know what he looks like.
Schaefer has acknowledged that there will indeed be talks with DuBoef and is keeping his fingers crossed.
?Let?s see what happens,? said Schaefer in an email.
POC seeks Pacquiao’s help Meantime, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco said he will ask Pacquiao to lend conditioning coach Alex Ariza as the Philippines prepares to make a strong showing in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.
Cojuangco said even though Ariza had conducted a seminar with the Guangzhou Asian Games-bound coaches a month before the event, it was not enough.
Cojuangco said the P5.9 million cash incentive of the Asian Games medalists will likely be awarded by no less than President Aquino on Friday afternoon at the Ultra in Pasig.
There?s one more, said Cojuangco.
?I will ask him to foot the bill as his contribution to our preparations,? said Cojuangco in the vernacular after presiding over the POC General Assembly at Wack Wack.
