Megafight can wait untl 2011, says Bob Arum -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

With no response from Floyd Mayweather Jr., promoter Bob Arum plans to do the next best thing: He’s willing to wait, even until next year for Mayweather to make a decision.

The Bulletin asked Arum over the July 4 weekend whether Floyd’s camp has sent any signal regarding the middle of July deadline he has set for the megafight with Manny Pacquiao. Apparently, Mayweather and his camp have not responded.

“It’s up to Mayweather if he wants to fight this year or next year,” Arum said over the phone from Los Angeles, where the Hall of Fame promoter celebrated Independence Day.

Arum made it clear that even if Mayweather decides to sit it out this year, the offer to face Pacquiao possibly in May 2011 stands.

If a Pacquiao-Mayweather duel can’t be made for November, Arum will immediately confer with Pacquiao on the prospects of signing up either Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito of Mexico.

Tapping Cotto or Margarito won’t pose any problems since they, like Pacquiao, also fight under the Top Rank banner, thus making it easier for Arum to deal with their handlers.

Meanwhile, Arum is proceeding to San Juan in Puerto Rico on Tuesday to lead the staging of this Saturday night’s big showdown featuring Juan Manuel Lopez against Filipino Abe Concepcion.

Source: mb.com.ph