Arum: Floyd not as fast as before

MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank chief Bob Arum seriously doubts if Floyd Mayweather would agree to fight Manny Pacquiao in Macau – if and when the fight happens.

Arum said he’d like to see the biggest fight in boxing held in the former Portuguese colony, where Pacquiao has already established some foothold.

“Of course it could be held in Macau. Top Rank would be amenable to Macau but whether Mayweather would agree to have it in Macau that’s something I rather doubt because Mayweather is not the most sophisticated guy,” Arum told the South China Morning Post.

“In his mind, all Asians are the same, doesn’t matter whether you’re Chinese, Japanese or Filipino, you’re Asian and you’re the same. In his mind, fighting Manny in Macau would be like fighting on Manny’s home court.”

Pacquiao fought once in Macau, against Brandon Rios in 2013, and he’ll be back at the Cotai Arena on Nov. 23 to defend his title against undefeated Chris Algieri.

Macau is just a couple of hours away from the Philippines, and a short ferry ride from Hong Kong, which is almost like second home to Filipinos.

No wonder when Pacquiao fights in Macau, everybody wants to be there.

The WBO welterweight champion from the Philippines is in first week of training in General Santos City.

But it seems there’s nothing much to talk about his coming fight, and instead, things continue to revolve around his projected showdown with Mayweather.

Everybody wants the fight to happen – as soon as possible.

And Arum came to the extent of saying Pacquiao and Mayweather could even fight twice next year, in Macau if the unbeaten American wants to.

“We would certainly, Manny and Top Rank, view with a lot of favor the fight be held in Macau,” Arum added in the South China Morning Post article.

Mayweather drove past Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas last Sunday, and to some experts, including Arum, it was quite a bumpy ride.

The American champion, who turned 37 last February, won on all scorecards, but Maidana had his moments, too.

The day after the fight, Mayweather spoke to reporters with swollen upper lips and what looked like a broken nose.

Arum said Mayweather is no longer the same old Mayweather.

“He’s not as fast as before, his footwork is not as good and remember against Maidana, he was in with a guy who knows very limited skills as a rough, tough guy,” Arum said.

And it’s not just his movements inside the ring, and his appearance outside the ring that say so.

“His PPV numbers have been going down considerably. What that tells us is that people are getting disgusted with Mayweather and his base is eroding,” Arum said.