By John F. McKenna (McJack)
Marketing genius and WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) has successfully painted WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) into a corner by calling him out on his twitter account and challenging him to step up and fight him.
Mayweather had been scheduled to begin his 90 day jail sentenc at the Clark County Detention Center last Friday on January 6. Mayweather’s attorneys however were able to delay the start of his jail term until June 1st. The argument his attorneys used was that Mayweather had already reserved the MGM Grand Arena for May 5 to fight an unspecified opponent. They argued that a Mayweather fight on that date would bring in over $100 million into the economy of Las Vegas. The judge bought the argument and granted the delay in the start of Floyd’s jail sentence.
By calling out Pacquiao through his Twitter, Mayweather succeeded in once again putting the Pacquiao camp back on their heels. Ever since the delay of his jail sentence Top Rank CEO Bob Arum seemingly has come up with one excuse after another to avoid the Pacquiao – Mayweather fight.
Pacquiao on the other hand seems only too willing to engage Mayweather, possibly around the end of May. One of the arguments Arum used was that the cut Manny suffered in his November fight with WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KO’s) needed more time to heal. But Manny indicates that the cut will not be a problem. Another argument Arum used was that the MGM Grand was not large enough to handle the anticipated live crowd. That argument too fails to hold water since a temporary stadium could apparently be constructed in the time frame needed.
Pacquiao has indicated that he will let it be known to Arum that he wants the Mayweather fight next. Pacman’s willingness to accept a smaller percentage of the revenue also attests to his desire to fight Mayweather. Arum has been saying for the past couple of weeks that Manny himself will decide who he fights next. But, as Pacquiao’s promoter it is clear that Arum has considerable leverage in Manny’s decision as to who he fights.
The ball is now in Manny Pacquiao’s court and he is in the position, as difficult as it may be that he needs to overrule his promoter Bob Arum. His legacy is now at stake and ultimately if the Mayweather fight never happens he will receive the bulk of the blame long after Arum is gone.
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