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Source: Dennis Principe, Manila Standard Today

-- EVENTUALLY, American promoter Bob Arum decided to choose a fighter, who’s name not only rhymes with money, but will actually make loads of it.


Yesterday, Arum stated that they have reached a verbal agreement with former three-division world champion Shane Mosley to be the next opponent of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

The announcement did not come as a surprise as Arum has been vocal about his choice of Mosley, saying the American can still sell tickets and pay per view buys, though the veteran promoter initially had bitter Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez and undefeated welterweight champion Andre Berto in the mix.

Last week, he personally attended Pacquiao’s birthday bash in General Santos City, bringing along two prized possessions of his -- his wife Lovee and Pacquiao’s million-dollar fight proposal.

In the end, Arum pushed for the 39-year-old Mosley as the boxing impresario believes the American boxer’s name and accomplishment can still create some buzz.


Though Mosley has agreed to the deal that will reportedly guarantee him a minimum of $5 million and the upside of the Pay-Per-View buys, Top Rank president Tod Duboef sounded more prudent about the fight agreement.

“There are no signed agreements with Shane Mosley or Manny Pacquiao for a bout on May 7. Terms have been agreed to and contracts are with the lawyers,” said Duboef.

Mosley was represented by his friend rap artist and James Prince during the meeting at Top Rank’s Las Vegas office.

The still-to-be-signed bout between Pacquiao and Mosley is set on May 7, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

If ever, Mosley would be Pacquiao’s first black American opponent after the Filipino feasted on well-known Mexican fighters the last couple of years.

A more prominent black American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the original choice of majority of boxing fans, but the former pound-for-pound champion, has been eerily quiet about the challenge. He has also been recently dealing with several brushes with the law, the latest of which was a 12-hour jail stay after being accused of poking the face of a 21-year-old security guard during a Nov. 15 parking ticket argument.

Pacquiao’s bout with Mosley may be needing a lot of hard selling since the choice of the American fighter has been met by critical remarks from experts and aficionados.

Mosley is coming off a dull 12-round split draw against Mexican-American middleweight Sergio Mora last September. Previous to that in May, Mosley dropped a one-sided, 12-round verdict to Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden.