MANILA, Philippines - If he could have his way, Bob Arum wants it done as soon as possible.
But that’s a big if.
The chief of Top Rank Promotions, in the country to help Manny Pacquiao decide on his next fight, was scheduled to meet the Filipino ring icon over dinner last night at Shangri-La Makati.
Arum said Pacquiao already has different fight proposals in his hands, those involving possible fights with Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez or Andre Berto on April 16 at the MGM Grand.
Arum was asked if their discussions would take days or weeks.
“Maybe half an hour,” he said over the phone yesterday from his hotel in Makati City.
But Pacquiao doesn’t seem to be in a hurry, and in fact he had wanted May as the month he’d return to action. It’s just that Arum is saying that April is the best time to do it.
Arum arrived yesterday morning from the United States to discuss the immediate plans of the pound-for-pound champion who will also throw a grand birthday party in General Santos City this coming Friday.
Pacquiao turns 32 in three days, and while age may be catching up on him, there’s no stopping him from doing what he does best – fight.
Arum said he wants two fights for Pacquiao for 2011, and it starts with the one in April.
“It starts tonight,” said Arum of his talks with Pacquiao, his trainer, Freddie Roach, and adviser, Mike Koncz.
Arum said he wants it done ASAP.
“Definitely,” said Arum, who flies home to Las Vegas on the 19th.
“I need to know before I go back home. Because we need to work on the dates, the schedule,” he added.
As of the moment, however, Arum can’t say who’s leading the race.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to Manny. It’s all up to him,” he said.
However, insiders are saying that Mosley, who’s pushing 40, has the fight sealed, primarily because among the candidates, he’d bring the most to the table in terms of pay-per-view attraction.
“We’ll present Manny with the information and, ultimately, it’s Manny’s decision whom he fights. We’ve talked to the other fighters and their promoters, so we know exactly where we stand,” Arum told GMA-7 News.
“Don’t forget, Mosley beat Oscar (De La Hoya) twice and had a fight with (Floyd) Mayweather. Mosley has been on the big stage for a long, long time and people know who he is,” he added.
Yes, Mosley’s name should be on top of the menu.
