Will Manny Pacquiao take the fifth? That is the question that inquiring boxing minds want to hear answered. No, I don’t mean the Fifth Amendment, which in Amercia allows a person to legally refuse to answer any question on the grounds of possible “self incrimination.” My reference is to the suddenly new and fifth next fight option promoter Bob Arum will delineate when he spends Tuesday through Saturday of next week in Metro Manila with his cash cow, Da Pacman. Even someone sequestered in a remote cave in Lower Slobbovia has been aware that the 80 year old Arum is jetting to the Philippines to discuss the pros and cons of the Pinoy Idol taking a May or June bout against nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, resurgent PPV TV strongman Miguel Cotto, undefeated Timothy Bradley and Amir Khan conqueror Lamont Peterson. But, on Friday morning in a Vegas courtroom, Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa threw a wild card into the next Pacman fight mix when she granted a request by Floyd Mayweather Junior’s criminal defense lawyers. The Honorable Saragosa deferred Mayweather’s jail sentence on the “Baby Mama Drama” case in which he plead guilty, permitting his stint in the hoosegow to be pushed back from Frdiay until June 1. That is the new date when Mayweather will leave his plush “Big Boy Mansion” to move into the Casino Center “Big House.” Mayweather’s temporary reprieve from incarcertation cleaqrly permits him to follow through with a planned May 5 title defense at the MGM Grand, an event which stimulates the local economony and a pitch which the judge bought into. But what fight fans want to know is whether this jail delay opens up the path for the Dream Fight between Floyd and Manny? I put that question to Arum Friday afternoon. “Obviously, I will discuss Mayweather with Manny when I get over there,” Arum said. “But Manny won’t fight early in May. “Once we know we’ve got a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, if and when, then we’re going foreward with erecting a 40,000-seat stadium on The Strip. The soonest we could have that stadium up and operating is the end of May. I also have to consider the cut eye Manny sufferted Nov. 12 with Marquez. “I have to check the status of Manny’s eye and I will do that. But, yes, this ruling does put Mayweather back into the mix. I’ve never heard of a ruling like that in all my years as a lawyer but, hey, you live and learn. “I will be discussing Mayweather with Manny, of course,” Arum said. Other industry sources were saying on Friday that Mayweather is planning on announcing a May 5 Cinco de Mayo opponent, presuambly a Mexican foe, as soon as next week. Mayweather versus Mexicano means no Mayweather versus Filipino meaning Floyd and Manny gets pushed back again to the fall of this year…if ever. There are continued rumblings that Golden Boy may be ready to let unbeaten Canelo Alvarez test Mayweather, despite his youth and relative in experience. GBP may figure that Alvarez helps his career even if he is just mildly competitive against “Money.” All that being said, I think we’re back to four options for Manny and the Manny money that such a fight would bring either JMM, Cotto, Bradley or the redoubtable Lamont Peterson. Another reason for Arum’s Pilipino pilgrimage is to attend the fighter’s big commercial shoot with cognac brand Hennessy. Henny with Coke, if you please. But no Floyd-Manny in May unless a miracle occurs. ([email protected])
