MANILA, Philippines – No stone is left unturned when it comes to Bob Arum preparing for a big boxing promotion and in the case of the world?s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao, the Top Rank chairman has a Plan A and a Plan B for his next bout.
Plan A involves Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Arum told The STAR yesterday if the WBC welterweight champion is ready to discuss terms, he?ll do whatever it takes to make the much-awaited showdown happen in late May or June. Plan B unravels if Mayweather proves unreasonable in negotiating a workable contract and it?ll be Pacquiao deciding on whom to fight among Juan Manuel Marquez, Lamont Peterson, Timothy Bradley and Miguel Cotto.
Arum blew into town last Tuesday and returns to the US tonight. Sometime today, he?ll confer with Pacquiao on Plan B.
?If the Mayweather fight doesn?t happen in May or June, we?ll go to Plan B and that involves Manny choosing his next opponent,? said Arum. ?Honestly, I have no preference. I?ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of fighting any of those four guys with Manny. Now, it?s up to him to choose. Freddie (Roach) thinks Cotto is doable. He?s coming off a big win over (Antonio) Margarito and he wants revenge after losing to Manny. Peterson just beat (Amir) Khan and he?s a worthy opponent, too. Bradley is undefeated and won?t be a problem to sign up. Marquez wants a fourth fight but I?m hearing that fans might not buy into it. The third fight did really well on pay-per-view. Will a fourth fight be like a rerun of a movie? I don?t know. That?s something we?ll need to chew on. It?s Manny?s call. I?m his promoter. Whomever he decides to fight, it?s my job to do it.?
Arum said negotiating with Mayweather won?t be easy. ?He?s not tied up with any promoter so he?s on his own,? said Arum. ?Oscar (de la Hoya) isn?t in the equation. What I?d like to know is who?s the guy negotiating for Mayweather. If he wants a guarantee, I can?t give him that unless I get a share of his revenues. That?s business. Manny?s agreeable to do the fight on a 50-50 split. We want this to happen. I?m not sure if Mayweather does, no matter what he says on twitter.?
