IN what appears to be an indication that a megabuck showdown between Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. is unlikely to happen anytime soon, the Filipino champ’s adviser Micxhael Koncz has met with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to discuss options for the Pacman’s scheduled June 9 fight.
Koncz has been quietly, but relentlessly pursuing efforts to help make a Mayweather fight since he first held a one-on-one meeting with the American boxer at his Las Vegas Gym last month. They also constantly talk to each other on the phone and even exchange text messages.
But after two days of conversations with different people, it appears Koncz has decided it’s time to make a decision on Pacquiao’s next fight.
He told Manila Standard earlier that he expects everything to be sorted out, with an announcement on Pacquiao’s June 9 opponent likely to be made this weekend.
In a brief message, Koncz confirmed his meeting with Arum.
“I met with Arum today and went over all of our options. No new developments or discussions,” said Koncz.
The four names mentioned as possible opponents were Juan Manuel Marquez, Lamont Peterrson, Timothy Bradley and Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao is not interested in fighting Marquez a fourth time and even World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman said that the Mexican had spoken very badly of the Filipino champ and doesn’t deserve another big payday.
On the other hand, Lamont Peterson, who was badly beaten by Bradley, has been directed by the World Boxing Association to give former light welterweight champion Amir Khan from whom he won the title under somewhat controversial circumstances, a rematch.
That leaves Bradley and Cotto to choose from.
Trainer Freddie Roach and even Arum seem to favor Bradley, while Koncz expressed his concern over the boxer’s tendency to come forward with his head, which could reopen the nasty cut on Pacquiao’s right eyebrow, which required 23 stitches after the last Marquez fight.
Given the realities, it would appear that a Cotto rematch is on the cards, especially after his people met with Arum on Monday to discuss the possibilities of a fight with Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has indicated he doesn’t wish to move up from the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, where he is the reigning World Boxing Organization champion, while Cotto has likewise said he can’t come down to 147 after winning the 154-pound title in a rematch with Antonio Margarito.
However, Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza believes Pacquiao could move up a couple of pounds and make the fight, which he said would surely draw unlike the undefeated junior welterweight Bradley, who cannot bring in the crowd.
Ariza said they are going to have to come to some sort of agreement and he expects this to happen because both sides know “that’s where the money is.”
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