ShareThis
June 11, 2010 World boxing icon in US for two-week family vacation
If negotiations for the mega fight between world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in November fizzles out, the Filipino boxing superstar may engage Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in a rematch.
This loomed as Pacquiao left Tuesday for the United States for a well deserved vacation in US and cruise off Mexico and to personally receive his Boxer of the Decade and 2009 Boxer of the Year Awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) in ceremonies on June 4 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.
A check with the BWAA website showed that Pacquiao will be the first boxer to receive the Fighter of the Decade award. Pacquiao left Manila with his family, including his wife Jinkee, with twin sister Janette, their kids Michael, Jimwell and Princess Elizabeth, and their nannies, as well as the boxer’s Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, and second trainer Roger Fernandez.
Pacquiao received his first Fighter of the Year award in 2006 following his smashing victories over Mexican fighter Erik Morales. In 2008, he was honored once more for his wins over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar dela Hoya.
Pacquiao, the only boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight classes, is only the fifth fighter in history to win the prestigious award three times — next to Muhammad Ali, Jose Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield. The Filipino fighter’s coach, Freddie Roach, will also receive the Trainer of the Year award, his fourth.
The 31-year- old newly-elected Con- gressman of Sarangani and Roach, winner of a record-setting four Trainer of the Year honor, are two of the major awardees to be feted in the yearly banquet by the biggest boxing writers association in the whole world.
While in US, Pacquiao was expected to meet with promoter Bob Arum on develop- ments about ongoing efforts for a Pacquiao- Mayweather Jr. mega-rich fight by Novem- ber.
Arum and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, representing Mayweather, have been silently working on making the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happen. Arum disclosed that in case the Mayweather deal doesn’t push through, Pacquiao may fight comebacking Antonio Margarito or face rematch with Cotto.
“If the Mayweather deal isn’t made, Pacquiao might fight Miguel Cotto, if Cotto beats (Yuri) Foreman for the 145-pound title,” said Arum. Cotto has moved up in weight and will challenge World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on June 5 at the New Yankee Stadium in New York, with Pacquiao expected to be in attendance.
The world’s top pound-for-pound fighter was also at ringside in June last year when Cotto beat Joshua Clottey by split decision to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown. Five months later, Pacquiao scorred a brutal 11th round stoppage of Cotto to wrest the 147-pound version of the WBO.
“I don’t think Manny would fight Yuri Foreman because he says Yuri is too tall,” said Arum of the defending 154-pound champion from Israel who stands 5-foot-11. Leaving for the U.S. with Pacquiao are his wife Jinkee and children, personal adviser Michael Konz and second trainer Roger Fernandez.
Pacquiao last fought in March, scoring a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Clottey to retain his WBO title belt. Pacquio and family will be off to Mexico for a couple of days of vacation to be hosted by Fernando Beltran of Mexico.
Pacquiao is expected back in Manila on June 12 or 13. On June 14, he is scheduled to attend a crash course on governance at the University of the Philippines.