i TV Pinoy

Source: Cedelf P. Tupas, inquirer.net

-- Top Rank promoter Bob Arum arrived in Manila Thursday to discuss with Manny Pacquiao details of the proposed super fight pitting the Filipino ring icon against American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao’s legal adviser, Jeng Gacal, told the Inquirer that the pound-for-pound king, fresh from an impressive 12th-round knockout of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto for his seventh weight division title, was scheduled to meet Arum either “tonight (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday).”

“I’m obviously over here to talk to Manny,” Arum told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times in an article in Thursday’s issue. “At this point, I’ve got to find out what my fighter wants to do.”

The Associated Press had reported that the fight contract has been approved by Mayweather’s representatives, but the boxer himself has yet to sign it.

Arum was to present the proposal to Pacquiao, but there are no guarantees he will agree.

Internet reports Wednesday said the bout will be scheduled on March 13.

The proposed date, however, does not sit well with Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach.

In a separate interview with Pugmire, Roach proposed a May 1 showdown for his prized ward and Mayweather, who came out of a two-year layoff to beat Juan Manuel Marquez last September.

“March 13 is too fast a turnaround,” Roach said. “Manny has a broken [right] eardrum [suffered in the Cotto fight]. “I’d like to have more time. I hope the fight happens, yes, but I want us to be in best shape.”

“Manny believes he should get a 60-40 [purse] split, too, because he did better in pay-per-view than Mayweather this year. Manny’s the bigger draw.”

Pacquiao’s Nov. 14 demolition of Cotto drew 1.25 million PPV buys, while Mayweather’s September fight against Juan Manuel Marquez attracted 1 million.

Observers say Arum’s arrival indicates that the megafight at 147 pounds is moving forward.

The fight was originally projected for May, but Pacquiao’s bid for Congress forced promoters to move it forward to March. The elections are in May, and Pacquiao wanted to be at home to campaign.

If the fight is approved, there would likely be a Jan. 11 press conference in New York to announce it. The bout could be the richest ever.

Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new Dallas Cowboys’ stadium have expressed interest in hosting the fight, along with the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, where the fighters have fought their biggest fights.