ShareThis
July 23, 2010
MANILA – The deadline for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to sign up for a fight against Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has passed without a word from the American fighter. This means there will be no acquiao-Mayweather super fight in Las Vegas in November.
Although Mayweather can still change his mind for the mega fight, expected to be one of the richest fight in boxing history, the Filipino fighter is now being asked by his promoter to choose either Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto or Mexico’s Antonio Margarito for the November card.
A Pacquiao win over Cotto or Margarito would mean a record eighth world title for the prizefighter and congressman from Sarangani. Promoter Bob Arum disclosed that Pacquiao will have to settle for either Cotto or Margarito on November 13 after Mayweather, Jr. ignored his deadline to sign up. Arum said it is all up to Pacquiao whether he wants to face Cotto a second time or take on Margarito for the first time. Either way, he gets a crack at an eighth world title in eight different weight divisions.
“It will be Manny’s decision.I do not have a preference.I do not want to prejudice the situation.I want Manny to decide,” said Arum, adding that a deal with either Cotto or Margarito could be made in 10 days. Arum had given Mayweather until midnight last Friday, but did not answer the deadline for the fight, prompting Arum to either sign up Cotto or Margarito against the Filipino and world’s pound-for-pound king Pacquiao. Arum said it was Home Box Office (HBO) Sports president Ross Greenburg who did the negotiations with Mayweather’s camp, headed by Al Haymon. HBO is a major player in big-time boxing and is a leading proponent to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.