Boxing
Arum: Pacquiao to choose opponent next week
The moment Bob Arum landed in Las Vegas from a week-long holiday in Mexico City on New Year’s Day, his mobile phone rang and the caller did not waste time in asking the Hall of Fame promoter about his plans for Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao.
Arum told InterAKTV that he will be in Manila for a few days next week to discuss what’s in store for Pacquiao in 2012.
“I haven’t talked with Manny and I will know what’s down the line when I see him,” said the 80-year-old Arum, who will be accompanied in the trip by Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz.
Arum said there are four fighters being eyed–Tim Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Lamont Peterson and Miguel Cotto–and Pacquiao will make the call on who to fight in May or June, possibly in Las Vegas.
Bradley appears to be the leading candidate since he has never faced Pacquiao like Marquez and Cotto. Peterson, like Bradley, has yet to square off with the Filipino and is a darkhorse for the gig.
Marquez is longing to get a fourth fight with Pacquiao after winding up broken-hearted when they fought the third time last November.
Arum said that once he gets Pacquiao’s go-signal, he will return to the US to present the offer to the lucky fighter.
“We’d know in the third week of January who will be Manny’s opponent,” said Arum.
