MANILA, Philippines - Bob Arum isn’t just looking at another opponent but a new venue as well just in case Manny Pacquiao’s superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn’t happen in November.
The legendary promoter told boxingscene.com about the possibility of bringing the Filipino superstar’s next fight to Monterrey, Mexico or somewhere in the Middle East.
Mayweather, who holds the key to the fight the whole world wants to see, has yet to make an announcement whether or not he’s accepting the fight with the pound-for-pound champion from the Philippines.
Arum must be working day and night to make the fight happen, and has given the undefeated American until the second week of this month to make the decision.
If Mayweather declines the fight with Pacquiao, and turns his back on the projected $40 million purse, then Arum will start working on a fight that may feature his prized ward against either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito.
Time is running out, and promoters may need as long as three to four months to promote a fight as big as one featuring Pacquiao. August could be the perfect time to get it going for a Nov. 13 fight.
Pacquiao’s adviser from Cebu, Wakee Salud, yesterday said Pacquiao will fight in November whether it’s against Mayweather, Cotto or Margarito. But he said he’d rather see the one with Mayweather take place.
Arum told boxingscene.com boxing editor Lem Satterfield that he’s looking at the three potential venues for the next Pacquiao fight but would rather hold on to the other details until Mayweather has made his decision.
“I don’t want to start naming the country until we’re further along. But it’s a Middle Eastern country and it’s not going to be in Dubai. We have a real, live offer from (the country) for them to take a fight with Pacquiao,” Arum was quoted as saying.
That place, insiders say, may be Doha, the capital of Qatar, rich in oil and gas.
“It’s fair to say that the other place is Monterrey. That is (the) other live offer on the table,” added Arum, who also said the offer from Qatar is “way bigger” that the $25 million Dallas dangled for the Pacquiao fight against Joshua Clottey last March.
Arum said Pacquiao has a tremendous following in the Middle East where there’s a very strong presence of Filipino overseas workers.
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