Golden Boy locked in May 7 date before Pacquiao, 'Stinko de Mayo' -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Richard Schaefer has publicly vowed not to badmouth the Sugar Shane Mosley-Manny Pacquiao bout even though Mosley abandoned his Golden Boy VP post and is off Oscar's Reservation.

For his part, contentious Bob Arum told me Wednesday morning (Manila time) that he is of a mind to start "playing nice" (my words, not his) with his GBP rivals.

I suggested extending an olive branch, of Peace in the Valley and maybe even a group hug between the Top Rank and GBP camps.

"That suits me just fine," Arum said, adding that most of his blasts against Richie Rich and Oskie have been reactionary.

But now there seems to be another bone of contention between boxing's two biggest promotional outfits.

Arum informed me that the Pacman fight will be shifted at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from April 16 to May 7 due to the Congressmanny's politcal schedule.

But there's a slight problem in going to 5/7, which is the traditional Cinco de Mayo Vegas boxing date which was often filled by first Julio Cesar Chavez and then by De La Hoya.

While Arum was talking about the day after income taxes are due, the Goldens applied for and got the May 7 date from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to run a show at the same venue featuring rising Mexican star, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, in a junior middleweight main event against the popular TBA.

Is this a bombshell? No. Is this an issue where both sides will retreat to the mattresses again? I don't think so.

Obviously, the money strained MGM Grand knows a Pacquiao main event brings in more cash than does an Alvarez topped (Carrot Topped?) one.

The Mosley-Pacman PPV will be handled by HBO and I'm sure the prime cable network and the hotel-casino can speak to GBP about releasing the date in favor of Pacquiao and Top Rank.

Not to mention the nice financial percentage GBP continues to rank in when anyone fights Pacman. Blocking a Megamanny bout is not in GBP's best interest, either.

That would be the easy solution.

The other way would be for the NSAC to hear a TR application and then award the date to Arum's posse.

I can't see any malice aforethought here. GBP wanted the holiday weekend for "Canelo" and Arum was steadily harping on April 16 for Pacman.

There's a thaw in the TR-GBP relationship and this date conflict should not be a peace-wrecking situation.
Not if they really want to play nice.

Pat Lundvall is the chairperson of the NSAC and works with commissioners "Cisco" Aguilar, "Skip" Avansino Jr., TJ Day and Bill D. Brady

Keith Kizer is the executive director.

TJ Day is not believed to be related to LA Times sports scribe TJ Simers.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com