LAS VEGAS – The name that everyone mentioned following Manny Pacquiao’s rousing win over Tim Bradley late Saturday night was that of Floyd Mayweather.
While there was a sprinkling of men who stated the name of Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, it was that of Mayweather’s name that got people salivating, hoping that, someday, the two rivals would get to face each other in the ring.
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who leads Top Rank, told the media assembly that he is not ruling out such a megabuck matchup but it would all depend on the promotional group of Mayweather.
But Arum said the most likely scenario is for Pacquiao sometime late in the year will be a clash with the winner of the May 17 battle between Marquez and Mike Alvarado set to take place in Los Angeles.
Arum said he has to wait until May 17 to determine what direction to take.
Mayweather is scheduled to resurface on May 3 against Marcos Maidana of Argentina also at the MGM Grand and Arum didn’t hold any punches in lashing at the Mayweather camp for picking on a dead body for an opponent.
“It’s up to the Mayweather team to make the fight happen,” said Arum, 82, who will fly to the Holy Land on Sunday to attend to a family matter.
The past few years, efforts have been made to reach an agreement for Pacquiao and Mayweather to finally engage in a lucrative showdown.
But each time Pacquiao agrees to a Mayweather demand, Mayweather would come up with a new alibi, preventing both camps from getting a deal done.
With Mayweather fight unlikely at this point in time, Arum is looking at the direction of a fifth fight between Pacquiao and Marquez, who knocked Pacquiao out cold during their fourth duel in late-2012.
Even Pacquiao loves the idea of meeting Marquez for the fifth time. “I don’t have a problem fighting Marquez but it’s up to my promoter (Arum),” said Pacquiao. (Nick Giongco)