Manny Pacquiao could pursue an eighth world title in as many weight classes on March 13 against WBA junior middleweight champ Yuri Foreman if a fight with Floyd Mayweather isn't made for that date, said Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum.Pacquiao, on Monday, filed for congressional candidacy in the Philippines' southern Sarangani province's Alabel township, an area where his opponent will be supported by the three biggest political and business families.
Meanwhile, Arum, and Golden Boy Promotions' Richard Schaefer, on behalf of the 32-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs), have been involved in negotiations for a megafight between their two fighters, who are considered the sport's two best, pound-for-pound.
HBO had proposed a date of May 1 for Mayweather-Pacquiao, but with the Philippines' congressional election being May 10, Arum said the fight would need to take place as early as March 13, allowing Pacquiao time to campaign.
"Running opposed, Pacquiao will have to begin campaigning on March 25," meaning that "he's got to get the fight over by March 13," Arum said of Pacquiao, 30, who registered for his second congressional bid, having lost in 2007 in General Santos City, where he lives.
"Our first priority is to do a fight with Mayweather. The fight, if it's going to happen with Mayweather, it's going to be March 13," said Arum, who also promotes Foreman. "And if it's not going to be Mayweather, then it's going to be Yuri Foreman also on March 13."
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 37 knockouts) is coming off of last month's 12th-round stoppage of Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), which earned him the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title -- his record seventh championship in as many weight classes.
On the Pacquiao-Cotto undercard, the 154-pound Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) dethroned Puerto Rican southpaw, Daniel Santos (32-4-1, 23 KOs), to become the first Israeli citizen to win a professional boxing title.
In September, Mayweather, a champion in five different weight classes, scored a lopsided decision over Mexican great, Juan Manuel Marquez (50-3-2, 38 KOs), who fought to a draw and lost a disputed decision, respectively, to Pacquiao.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Who in the world is Yuri Foreman?
Hey Pacquiao, instead of getting into politics why don't you seal your boxing legacy by fighting Mayweather and making huge $$$, and then you can run for as many political posts as you want. It would be a shame to see you have to fight an absolute nobody instead of putting on one of the hugest megafights of all time just because you want to make time for some campaigning process.
Floyd is ducking the Pacman! He wants more money and he also knows the Pacman is the one fighter who has a good chance of beating him. If Floyd does not fight him in the spring they may never fight; what a shame. I would love to see the Pacman put a beating on Floyd.
Its March 13 Floyd , will you step to the plate PITY PAT?? The world knows you'll pass on fighting Pacman on March 13 , ANOTHER EXCUSE from PITY PAT is on the way, WATCH ...
I hope Mayweather gets frozen out alltogether. He's a low class criminal with a horrible attitude. What kind of charactor would he be for our youth to look up to. I hope he just fades away.
HAVE YOUR KIDS LOOK UP TO YOU
March 13 Mayweather..step up to the plate. Big mouthed Mayweather will chicken out, he'll say he needs more money for the fight..bullchit!! It ain't about the money Mayweather, it's about weather or not you can back up that big mouth of yours. March 13 Mayweather...be there or you just chicken chit. Floyd's scared of Manny.
Mayweather is desperate for money. If Manny doesn't get his champion share he can TKO Mayweather financially by not fighting him.
Wow! Is everybody out there a Nazi? You folks are so stupid!
Hey Mayweather....look! Roach said you will be Manny's last fight and make it yours too...Win or Lose! Stop making excuses about the $$$! Make it 45/45 even and who ever wins gets the 10%! I think that's fair...what you say Floyd? Ready to fight on March 13th...!
lol, yea the fans want yuri foreman, whoever that is?? If Mayweather doesnt fight Pac boxing will truly be dead. No new stars are being made. If this fight doesn't happen its gonna be over. Boxing is in a truly sad state. Its sad to see it go.
You are a coward mayweather, man up for once in your life and back up pie hole of yours.
They say boxing needs this fight, and I would absolutely love to see it, but what happens to boxing after this fight? What happens after Pacquiao fades into the sunset and Mayweather (win/lose) runs his mouth into eternity? This fight needs to happen, but what comes after? What will be left for boxing? Not much. And that's sad.
Wow.....glad to see the klan is still alive. Both fighters are very talented and I'm a fan of both. You people who think Floyd is afraid, do not know anything about Boxing and ask Marquez and Hatton if they would call him "pity pat". Floyd has backed up his "piehole" everytime, look at him objectively as a fighter and he is the best. He made Marquez look stupid and Pac struggled against him 2X, some say he lost both times.......stick to golf you do not know anything about boxing.
Floyd is the champ, Floyd is unbeaten, Floyd has beaten everybody put in front of him. He deserves the champs share. Floyd is not broke and doesn't need money. Pacman is not setting any rules around here, and Floyd will not be strongarmed into a date just so Pacman can run for office. Who gives a damm about Pacman running for office, this is about boxing. Its not strictly up to Pacman to decide when they will fight. The champ has a say-so, and look down on him if you want, but whenever they fight he will give Pacman a historical ass whipping. After all 3 lesser men than the champ have already whipped his ass, and 2 lesser men fought him to a draw. Now would be the time for Pacman to think about finding something else to do. It strange that he wants to do it now that its time to discuss Floyd.
You said Floyd is the champ..then what is Manny? Isnt he the Champ too? Hey whatever happened when Mosley called him out on his night beating a slow ass Marquez? Floyd didnt even make weight for that fight. So is Floyed going to step up to the plate to fight Mosley? Or he'll take on a smaller guy on Manny? But make no mistake..Manny would kick his ass all night. Floyd can keep rolling that shoulder and he'll keep on getting body punches and when Gayweather opens up then Manny will knock his ignant ass...so please stop sucking on Floyd's dick.
floyd is just as fast as manny he has a better defense then manny. manny is sloppy with his punches and floyd is going to pick him apart if manny wanted to fight floyd he would have said so after he beat cotto instead of side stepping the question floyd wants to fight in may why not manny has his whole life to be in politics if any one is scared its manny. yuri foreman thats who he wants to fight who a guy who just one a belt barely manny is trying to play it safe now since he beat cotto yuri foreman name shouldnt have even be brought up maybe shane mosley or berto or paul willams shit even kermit citron is a better fight then yuri foreman floyd wants pacman thats why he came back he fought marquez because thats the only guy left thats fought pacman and he gave pacman a hard time so floyd want to see how good pacman was look how easy floyd dominated marquez it was like sparring he made him look like a amature and when he fought pacman he look like a champ floyd is going to do the same thing to pacman
IF COTTO WOULD HAVE STUCK TO THE SAME GAME PLAN AS HE DID WHEN HE BEAT MOSLEY HE WOULD HAVE WON. JABBING THE HECK OUT OF MANNY AND TIEING HIM UP ON THE WAY IN. BOXING IS FUNNY, MOSLEY WOULD DEMOLISH PACIOU(ARUM AND ROACH WOULDN'T EVEN GO THERE) YET PACIOU BEATS COTTO WHO BEAT MOSLEY ? MAYWEATHER WOULD NOT BE A GOOD FIGHT FOR MANNY. AS MUCH AS THE PUBLIC THINKS MANNY WOULD WIN IT WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER MARQUEZ / MAYWEATHER TYPE BOUT. I DON'T THINK MANNY WOULD KNOW HOW TO HANDLE A GUY WITH FLOYDS SPEED AND ELUSIVENESS. HE'S BE FRUSTRATED AND PRESS OPENING HIMSELF UP FOR A K.O. TOO MUCH CLASS HERE FOR MANNY SORRY FOLKS !!
floyd is a chump and he deserves a chump's share , and the ass whipping that manny WILL lay on him !
pacquiao-mayweather will not be as exciting a fight as everyone thinks.mayweather will jab and run and frustrate pacquiao and win a close decision.everyone will be frustrated and call for pacquia-mayweatherII.the arums of the world are making this fight more exciting than it will turn out.and they will laugh all the way to the bank.as usual.