By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Manny Pacquiao, called media reports "premature and inaccurate" that a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather megafight for March 13 is all but a done deal.
Arum flew to The Philippines Wednesday where he hopes to get Pacquiao to agree to the proposed deal that has been agreed to in principle by the representatives of the two sides, but a contract has yet to be signed by either fighter.
Reached by phone Wednesday evening (Thursday morning in the Philippines), Arum said, "I haven't even talked to Manny. I don't know what's happening on the other side with Mayweather.
"I'm not playing games about this," Arum said.
Mayweather is being represented by Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, in negotiations for what could be the richest fight ever between the two men generally regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The fight would probably take place at welterweight (147 pounds). Yahoo.com and ESPN.com have both reported, citing unnamed sources, that Mayweather has agreed to the fight. Mayweather representatives were unavailable for comment.
Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight title belt when he stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round — at a catchweight of 145 pounds — on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) came out of a nearly two-year retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 at the MGM Grand and won a unanimous decision against the popular Mexican.
The bout was originally considered for next May, but Pacquiao announced that he was going to run for Congress in The Philippines, his home country. Those elections are in May, and Pacquiao wanted to be there to be able to campaign for the seat.
Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new Dallas Cowboys' stadium have expressed interest in hosting the fight, as has the MGM Grand, where both fighters have fought their biggest fights.
There is also a proposal for a 30,000-seat temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn resort.
Mayweather is a slight favorite in early oddsmaking in Las Vegas.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Source: USAToday.com
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