Arum works out Plan A, B for Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - No stone is left unturned when it comes to Bob Arum preparing for a big boxing promotion and in the case of the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao, the Top Rank chairman has a Plan A and a Plan B for his next bout.

Plan A involves Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Arum told The STAR yesterday if the WBC welterweight champion is ready to discuss terms, he’ll do whatever it takes to make the much-awaited showdown happen in late May or June. Plan B unravels if Mayweather proves unreasonable in negotiating a workable contract and it’ll be Pacquiao deciding on whom to fight among Juan Manuel Marquez, Lamont Peterson, Timothy Bradley and Miguel Cotto.

Arum blew into town last Tuesday and returns to the US tonight. Sometime today, he’ll confer with Pacquiao on Plan B. 

“If the Mayweather fight doesn’t happen in May or June, we’ll go to Plan B and that involves Manny choosing his next opponent,” said Arum. “Honestly, I have no preference. I’ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of fighting any of those four guys with Manny. Now, it’s up to him to choose. Freddie (Roach) thinks Cotto is doable. He’s coming off a big win over (Antonio) Margarito and he wants revenge after losing to Manny. Peterson just beat (Amir) Khan and he’s a worthy opponent, too. Bradley is undefeated and won’t be a problem to sign up. Marquez wants a fourth fight but I’m hearing that fans might not buy into it. The third fight did really well on pay-per-view. Will a fourth fight be like a rerun of a movie? I don’t know. That’s something we’ll need to chew on. It’s Manny’s call. I’m his promoter.  Whomever he decides to fight, it’s my job to do it.”

Arum said negotiating with Mayweather won’t be easy. “He’s not tied up with any promoter so he’s on his own,” said Arum. “Oscar (de la Hoya) isn’t in the equation. What I’d like to know is who’s the guy negotiating for Mayweather. If he wants a guarantee, I can’t give him that unless I get a share of his revenues. That’s business. Manny’s agreeable to do the fight on a 50-50 split. We want this to happen. I’m not sure if Mayweather does, no matter what he says on twitter.”

Arum said a May 5 fight may be too soon to stage if Pacquiao and Mayweather come to terms. “The MGM Grand Garden Arena can sit 16,500 but this fight is what the whole world’s been waiting for,” he continued. “My plan is to put up an outdoor arena on the Strip with a seating capacity of 45,000. I’ve spoken with Rob Goldstein (president of the Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino and Las Vegas Sands Corp.) and the most reputable builder of an outdoor facility and they think we can put it all together but ideally, on June 9. If Mayweather is supposed to start serving his sentence on June 1, I think we can ask the judge to postpone it ‘til after the fight.  My estimate is staging it outdoors will mean an incremental income of at least $30 Million. You don’t want to throw that away by sticking to a May 5 date.”

Arum said Las Vegas has hosted several fights in makeshift outdoor arenas in the past with much success. The fights involved Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe and Gerry Cooney. In 1982, Holmes and Cooney fought outdoors before a crowd of 29,214. In 1989, Leonard and Hearns battled to a draw on a makeshift ring built on top of the tennis courts at Caesars Palace before 23,618 fans. Arum said he expects a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight to fill an outdoor arena capacity of 45,000.

   Arum said Andre Berto would’ve been considered as a possible opponent in Plan B but the IBF welterweight champion is booked to face Victor Ortiz in a rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Feb. 11.

   While the justice system appears to be bending backwards for Mayweather in postponing his incarceration, there’s no doubt he’s going to jail. “The only thing that’s going to get this man’s attention is incarceration,” said prosecutor Lisa Luzaich. Judge Melissa Saragosa, in meting out his sentence, said Mayweather had admitted to hitting the mother of their two children, Josie Harris, twisting her arm and threatening to make her “disappear.” Mayweather was supposed to start serving his sentence last Jan. 6 but the judge allowed a delay because the fighter had previously booked May 5 for a fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Now, Arum wants another postponement so the duel with Pacquiao could take place in late May or ideally, on June 9.