By James Slater: According to promoter Bon Arum, in speaking to The Philippine Star, it took “30 minutes to get everything done.” Arum was referring to his star fighter Manny Pacquiao and he choosing the next opponent for the P-4-P king.
But, being tight-lipped, Arum will not say who it is that Pac-Man chose. Not until an official press conference set for this coming week some time. Why not? Is it because Arum knows the fans will be unhappy because the chosen next foe is not Floyd Mayweather? Maybe. But Arum has said that Mayweather “is not out of the picture.”
All Arum would say was that “Yes, he [Manny] has made the right choice.” Again, why the need for secrecy then?
It may not mean too much, but whispers coming out of The Philippines say that Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, was quoted as saying her husband has chosen Miguel Cotto as his next opponent, meaning, if true, that we will see a return of the November 2009 meeting Pac-Man and Cotto had. How will fans react if this proves to be true? Pacquiao against a guy he has already dominated and stopped, anyone? And at what weight will the reigning WBA 154-pound champ face Pacquiao at if a return happens?
Jinkee said her husband had been going though tapes and, in looking for a June opponent, picked Cotto.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Pacquiao did fight Cotto next; or anyone else other than Mayweather come to that. A recent ESPN poll had a whopping 46-percent of voters saying they did not believe Pacquiao-Mayweather would happen this year. I’m one of these people.
Look for Mayweather to fight on his set date of May 5th (probably against Canelo Alvarez), and look for Pacquiao to fight four to six weeks later (probably against Cotto).
Now, let Arum and Pacquiao prove me wrong!