BOXING-Manny Camp Not Waiting for Floyd
‘Mayweather fight can wait,
but we can’t wait for him’
BY Bleacherreport
ON Friday (Saturday in Manila), undefeated American World Boxing Council welterweight champion Floyd Mayweater Jr. will start his 90-day jail term in Las Vegas as his penance for a domestic violence charged filed by his former wife last year.
This means he will be behind bars up to March, dashing hopes of a mega-showdown between him and Filipino star Manny Pacquiao in May in Las Vegas.
While Mayweather, who has a 42-0 record, will be in forced hibernation, Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion, will continue his campaign atop the ring while performing his duties as a congressman representing the province of Sarangani.
"Yes, Manny will be as busy fighting even without Mayweather," trainer Freddie Roach told Malaya Business Insight in a telephone interview yesterday.
"The Mayweather fight can wait, but we can’t wait for him.
"We’re going to fight in May or in June. We don’t know the exact date (and opponent) yet, but for sure our first fight in 2012 will be in the spring. The regular scheduled second bout could be held as usual in November.
"If Floyd is available and is willing to accept the challenge, then we’ll go for him not only because Manny has already reiterated his willingness to face him but, as we already know, that’s the fight the entire boxing world has been craving for many years now," Roach added.
Roach said four fighters are being considered as Pacquiao’s next opponent—Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, world junior welterweight titleholder Tim Bradley and Lamont Peterson.
Roach denied earlier reports he prefers Peterson as Pacquiao’s initial opponent this year, saying a fight with any of the four could be a good tune-up in case the much-awaited Pacquiao-Mayweather battle turns to reality.
In terms of public interest and financial benefits, Roach said Marquez, Top Rank’s Bob Arum’s personal choice, could be it. The Filipino and the Mexican "Dinamita" have fought thrice, with Pacquiao winning their latest battle last year.
Roach agreed Cotto, whom the Filipino ring star knocked out in the 12th round to wrest the WBO 147-pound crown in 2009, would be another good choice. The Puerto Rican is coming off an impressive victory over Antonio Margarito, another Pacquiao victim last year.
Bradley emerged as a likely candidate when he was signed by Top Rank last year after emerging triumphant over Jose Casamayor in the under-card of Pacquiao-Marquez III.
Like Peterson, who surprisingly beat another Roach protégé, Amir Khan, to make it in the list, Bradley is not yet a big pay-per-view draw and cannot be considered as a possible bankable opponent.
Pacquiao has expressed interest in fighting Marquez for the fourth time, but the Mexican’s numerous demands can prove a hindrance. Aside from asking for a bigger purse (he made $5 million the last time), he has also demanded the fight be held elsewhere than Las Vegas.
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