In what has become an interesting turn of events, Floyd Mayweather took to twitter yesterday afternoon to call out Manny Pacquiao. Money tweeted, "Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see." He followed with "My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk." This was obviously coming since the Pacquiao - Marquez fight. I, along with many others predicted that Floyd would be more than willing to fight Manny after watching that performance. The obstacle stopping this "MEGA FIGHT" will no longer be Money Mayweather. The one reason why this fight will NEVER happen is Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.
Bob Arum is currently in the Philippines meeting with Team Pacquiao to discuss 4 possible opponents (none name Mayweather) for a June 9th fight (Mayweather will be in jail by this point). Why after all the back and forth and all the money that will be made from this fight would Bob Arum not let it happen? Simple, he doesn't think Manny can win. A loss to Mayweather would more than likely cause Manny to retire and focus on politics (now his true passion) unless it was a controversial loss. Arum is not willing to cash in Manny on one super fight when he can make more off of Manny if he has 3 to 4 more fights before calling it a career. Here are some of the excuses Bob Arum has given:
1. "We're fighting in June, one of the four guys" (Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson)
2. "If Manny feels he wants to go in May, he will tell me. I want to make sure Manny's cuts are healed. We won't fall under this kind of pressure. June is much more likely for Manny's fight, not May."
3. "What if they fought and Manny started bleeding on the first punch? I don't know if Manny is available to fight in May. I have no idea. I haven't talked to him; I haven't seen him. Seems to me, June is more likely based on what his plastic surgeon said." (it takes 6 month for a cut to heal?)
4. "I don't even know if Mayweather will be licensed [by the Nevada State Athletic Commission] before he serves his time"
More than likely Floyd will end up fighting Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on May 5th.
Canelo is a heavy hitting young Mexican fighter, the current undefeated light middle weight champ and an exciting fighter to watch. But to match him up against Floyd at this point in his career is a mistake. Although Floyd has never faced anyone with the power Canelo has I think Floyd's experience and ring generalship will be just too much for the kid. Secondly there is the issue of weight. Canelo is a in a higher weight class than Floyd which means he would have to drop down to make the fight happen hampering some of his power.
Now can I soley blame Arum if this fight doesn't happen? Not at all. In the end Manny Pacquiao is the one that can force Bob Arum's hand.
If he tells Arum he wants Floyd on May 5th and also comes out publicly to declare he wants the fight then Arum will have no choice but to make it happen. I've never known Manny to back down from any fight and I don't think he is worried about losing to Floyd. He's never ducked any fighter and I wouldn't expect him to start now. But Arum is crafty guy. If there is a way of stopping this fight from happening he will find it.
-J-Rod
