Trainer Freddie Roach told this reporter last week that Manny Pacquiao would be coming to Los Angeles this week to talk about his next opponent. As it turns out, Pacquiao won’t be coming to L.A., said his promoter, Bob Arum.
Rather, Arum is going to the Philippines next week and will meet with Pacquiao on, or just after, Jan. 10 to discuss which of four fighters will next square off with him. They are Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto and Lamont Peterson.
“I will be meeting with Manny that week and everything will get sorted out,” Arum said.
Arum said he is currently determining how all four fighters might fare as far as generating bucks for live gate and pay-per-view.
“We are researching all of that, all four guys,” Arum said. “We have asked HBO for their opinion, and I will present it all to Manny and then we will have a decision.”
Interestingly, not only would Arum not say which fighter he prefers during a telephone conversation with BoxingScene.com, he said he is going to withhold that information from Pacquiao as well.
“I’m going to try and do this without even letting Manny know who I prefer,” Arum said. “I want it to be his decision. He’s mature enough and knowledgeable enough about boxing to make the choice himself. I’m just going to lay out the facts.”
Arum Hopeful Mayweather Can Hang
Going to jail is no fun. Yours truly spent his share of time in L.A. County Jail back in the day, so that is coming from experience. Arum, who promoted much of Floyd Mayweather’s career before Mayweather bolted, isn’t sure how Mayweather will respond to confinement. Last month Mayweather was sentenced to 90 days in the Clark County Detention Center, after pleading guilty to a charge of domestic abuse.
“Although I’m not an expert, going to prison is not a pleasant thing, and some people handle it better than others,” Arum said. “And I just hope Floyd is able to handle it, get it behind him. Whether he will or not, I have absolutely no idea.”
