by James Slater – Michael Konzc, chief financial advisor to pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, has been quoted by CBS Sports.com as saying the 31-year-old living legend will be back in action (in the ring, not the political field) in November. Konzc said Pac-Man will fight on one of two dates – either November 6th or a week later on November 13th, and that he will fight once again at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
“There is no opponent named yet, but that is certainly when we will fight,” Konzc said.
This, of course, is exciting news, and at the same time fans will no doubt get themselves even more excited while hoping it will be pound-for-pound #2 Floyd Mayweather who Pacquiao clashes with in November. That fight, as has been well documented, has had more than it’s share of problems being made, and making it now doesn’t figure to be any easier; what with the drug testing demands Mayweather continues to make – the ones Pacquiao has thus far declined..
“If Mayweather wants to fight Manny, then no problem,” Konzc said. “Provided he doesn’t try to bully us into terms and conditions.”
But who else could it be that the Filipino dynamo fights in the year’s penultimate month if it’s not “Money?”
According to Konzc, Manny could possibly face the winner of the June 5th light-middleweight title bout between defending WBA champ Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto; also, there is speculation that Pacquiao could even face the recently-returned Antonio Margarito next.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t get overly excited about the idea of Pac-Man facing either Foreman or Cotto; even if a win would make the multi-weight world champion even more history (a recognised world title at a sixth weight!). Pacquiao has already beaten Cotto, badly, and a fight with boxer Foreman could well be something of a so-so affair, with all due respect to the talented Foreman.
And as for Margarito, does he really deserve the opportunity to make millions in a fight with Pacquiao? Sure, style-wise, this match-up could well be a barnburner, but many fans have still to forgive the Mexican for the “loaded handwraps” episode (if they will ever fully forgive Margarito).
No, whichever way you look at it, the only fight that really makes sense for Pacquiao is one with 33-year-old Floyd Mayweather Junior. And, positively, Manny’s trainer Freddie Roach was quoted recently as saying he believes this fight WILL happen. Wouldn’t it be great indeed if this fabulous match-up took place in the fabulous setting that is the Dallas Cowboys Stadium!
It was an “Event” when Pacquiao made his debut there back in March, but unfortunately the fight itself, against a reluctant Joshua Clottey, was overshadowed by the magnificence of the arena. This would not be the case if Pacquiao-Mayweather took place there!