The story was first reported by ABS-CBN, with a followup by BoxingScene.com.
A 32-year-old congressman in the Sarangani Province of his native Philippines, Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) will face the 39-year-old Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
Two weeks prior to earning the WBC junior middlweight (154 pounds) belt with an HBO-televised, Top Rank Promotions, Nov. 13 unanimous decision over former titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao attended an October rally for Reid, whom he informed of his desire to meet Obama.
Pacquiao, who will also meet First Lady Michelle Obama, is "excited, because my dream was to face President Obama and to talk to him," according to ABS-CBN.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and organization publicist Lee Samuels told FanHouse that a press tour will begin on Thursday in Los Angeles, followed by stops in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 12, New York on Monday, Feb. 14, and, Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Although some members of the Pacquiao team already have received clearance to visit the U.S. Senate floor as Reid's guests, Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, are expected to be the only ones to meet Obama, according to a source with knowledge of the arrangements.
"What we're definitely planning is a meeting in Senator Reid's office, and then, Senator Reid is going to take Manny to the floor of the senate," said Arum in an earlier interview with FanHouse.
"And then we'll have the press conference in Washington, D.C.," said Arum. "We're going to have it hosted by the Nevada Congressional delegation. That's all going to happen on Feb. 15."
In December of 2009, Pacquiao was named among Time Magazine's Top 25 People Who Mattered in 2009 -- listed alphabetically right behind President Obama.
Obama and Pacquiao were each featured on 60 Minutes on Nov. 8 -- a mere five days prior to Pacquiao vanquishing Margarito.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
