MANILA, Philippines - Bagamat sinabi na ni Manny Pacquiao na 80 hanggang 90 porsiyento nang matutuloy ang kanilang salpukan ni Floyd Mayweather, Jr., wala pa ring nangyayaring malaking hakbang para ito maitakda.
Sa isang panayam kasabay ng pagdiriwang niya sa kanyang pang 80 kaarawan kahapon, sinabi ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions na wala pang solidong nangyayaring negosasyon para sa naturang mega-fight na kaagad na iniskedyul sa Mayo 5, 2012.
“The investors would be mainly US-based, some of them with partners outside of the American soil,” ani Arum. “Definitely, the fight would be staged in the US. We will announce the relevant details in due time once we formally meet Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and his party.”
Inihayag kamakailan ni Pacquiao, may 54-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 38 KOs, na kumpirmado nang matutuloy ang kanilang salpukan ni Mayweather (42-0-0, 26 KOs) sa Mayo 5, 2012.
“I am waiting. There's no negotiation with Pacquiao camp yet at this time,” sabi ng 34-anyos na si Mayweather, isang five-division world champion, kaugnay sa estado ng usapan para sa kanilang suntukan ng Filipino world eight-division king.
Umaasa si Arum na mapaplantsa ang negosasyon para sa Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown bago matapos ang taon.
“I'll tell you the truth. My guy (Pacquiao) wants that fight. He really wants that fight. I want that fight. And I want it to happen next. I believe Floyd wants that fight to happen. Now how it happens, how we go about doing it, that's a little difficult. The difference in personalities between Manny and Floyd is just tremendous,” ani Arum. “Hopefully, we'll be able before the new year to bridge that gap and make that fight happen.”
Kung muling bumagsak naman ang negosasyon kay Mayweather, ang opsyon ni Arum ay ang pang apat na laban nina Pacquiao at Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KOs).