Floyd Mayweather Jr. reportedly has until Friday to decide whether he will agree to fight Manny Pacquiao in the highly anticipated welterweight showdown that has been months in the making, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 13, according to ESPN.com.
While Pacquiao waits to hear back, his team isn’t twiddling its thumbs. Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, reportedly met with promoter Bob Arum to discuss alternatives to the fight, in case Mayweather backs out.
According to Arum, Mayweather’s people have a fight contract, the terms of which were already approved by Pacquiao, including hotly debated preliminary drug testing.
This past winter, negotiations for the fight were stalled because of disagreements over drug testing — Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style drug testing and Pacquiao objected, refusing to have blood drawn within 24 days of a fight. Pacquiao later agreed to blood tests within 14 days of the fight, a condition originally set forth by Mayweather.
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, told ESPN that if Mayweather declines, Pacquiao will simply fight somebody else at Cowboys Stadium in November. Both Arum and Koncz expressed hope that Mayweather would agree to the fight, but they aren’t counting on it. Possible alternate scenarios include Pacquiao fighting former welterweight champ Antonio Margarito or a rematch with Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao and Mayweather are widely believed to be the two best boxers in the world. It’s thought that a fight between them would set all kinds of records and make loads of money. While both Margarito and Cotto would provide entertainment, neither option has quite the same superstar allure that Pacquiao vs. Mayweather would have.
Whether Pacquiao plans to fight Mayweather, Cotto or Margarito, one thing’s for sure: Pacquiao is fighting, and he’s fighting to win.
In other news, Dan Gilbert gets fired up about LeBron James, Chad Ochocinco keeps himself in check in New York and Jon Lester tells us how he really feels about Hanley Ramirez.
"That's the fight we want and that's the fight we're in for, but if we can't do that fight, there are other opponents."
–Promoter Bob Arum, on ESPN.com, on Floyd Mayweather Jr. potentially deciding against fighting Manny Pacquiao
"If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our 'motivation' to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels."
—Dan Gilbert, in a public statement, on LeBron James’ decision to play for the Miami Heat
"He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave."
—Jesse Jackson, on ESPN.com, regarding Dan Gilbert’s comments
"This is by far the worst seating arrangement ever. I can’t see anything and I’m afraid I’m going to get smoked by a ball."
—Dustin Pedroia, on his seat at the Home Run Derby (on the field)
"Wrong place, wrong time, wrong guy."
—David Ortiz, on WEEI.com, on getting thrown out at second base with one out in the ninth inning of the All-Star Game
"@nflcommish Dad everything is ok here in NY, I have the situation under control, I turned the other cheek but he kept provoking me, thanks"
—Chad Ochocinco, to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell via Twitter, on an altercation with a bouncer at a New York City club. He later said the fight was a joke.
"The Lakers are the champions and we know the Lakers are very good. That's the team that everyone's shooting for and they should be. Not the Miami Heat. The Los Angeles Lakers."
—Dwyane Wade, on ESPN.com, on who the real team to beat in the NBA will be next year
"Sports fame is like riding a tiger. It's fun for awhile, but how do you get off without being eaten?"
—Rick Reilly, on ESPN.com, on LeBron James’ fall from grace
"I'm not going to go into that."
—Tiger Woods, at his British Open news conference, regarding his impending divorce
"I’d have a better chance of being struck by lightning than me and him getting a pizza together. You can take that for what it’s worth. But there was no chance on God’s green earth that I was getting a pizza with him."
—Jon Lester, to the Boston Herald, regarding former minor league teammate Hanley Ramirez
