Top Rank promoter Bob Arum called a recent report that he is negotiating a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight in early March at Cowboys Stadium "total nonsense."
"We haven't talked to Mayweather," said Arum. "We haven't discussed it with Mayweather."
The story, reported by an affiliate of The Dallas Morning News, quoted Top Rank vice president Bruce Trampler as indicating that Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 knockouts) needed to dethrone WBO champ Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) on Nov. 14, after which Top Rank could focus on making the fight with Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) in Arlington, Texas.
The story quoted Trampler as saying that Arum had "spoken directly to [Cowboys owner] Jerry Jones," later saying, "Pacquiao is very interested in fighting there. We would definitely try to schedule a fight with Mayweather in March, which is something fans have been waiting to see for some time."
Arum acknowledged discussions concerning Pacquiao in a third match with WBA and WBO 135-pound champion Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KOs), whom Pacquiao has drawn with once and beaten once over two disputed fights at featherweight (125) and super featherweight (130).
Pacquiao-Marquez would take place at 140 pounds, said Arum.
"This would be my dream if Pacquiao wins. I would think that a fight with Marquez, coupled with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. against [John] Duddy would be a blockbuster in Cowboys Stadium, particularly given the huge Hispanic population in that area," Arum said.
Chavez (40-0-1, 30 KOs), a junior middleweight (154), meets Troy Rowland (25-2, seven KOs) on Nov. 14, and Duddy (27-1, 17 KOs), is a middleweight (160).
Pacquiao's record, on Boxrec.com, shows March 13 as being an opponent "TBA" in the United States.
"We're talking about Pacquiao against Marquez if Pacquiao wins," said Arum. "If Cotto wins, we're exploring Cotto fighting in June in Yankee Stadium."
Cotto has been a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden, where he packs the stands and is 6-0 with three knockouts, vanquishing the likes of Shane Mosley, Joshua Clottey, Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi.
"Yankee Stadium took a full page add out for our Pacquiao-Cotto fight program that reads 'Yankee Stadium, Your Home For Boxing 2010,' and there's a picture of the stadium," said Arum. "The Yankees are so interested in doing boxing at their stadium. That's a good story that nobody has."
Source: FanHouse.com
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