I remember saying back in September, half-joking but unfortunately half-serious, that I was terrified that Erik Morales, who had just claimed the bogus WBC title at 140 pounds, would attempt to step up to welterweight and face WBC welterweight titlist Floyd Mayweather Jr, who also picked up his green belt that night in Las Vegas.

Bob Arum may be joking, but he might not be when he says that Mayweather will target Morales, not Manny Pacquiao, for his May 5, 2012 return to the ring. From the Manila Bulletin:

"You know the little fellow that they already approached? Erik Morales," declared Arum.

... "Erik will confirm it, absolutely. Erik has been approached to make the fight. He’ll take it for the money. I’m sure he’ll take it for the money. Why wouldn’t he? But I don’t know who’s gonna buy it. But that’s (what) the whole non-sense is all about."

There is a sickening sensation I'm feeling here. Chris LaBate of BoxingScene.com says that Eric Gomez, Golden Boy's matchmaker, has told the Mexican press there's interest in the fight.

Of course, this could just be the latest in a series of "Are you shittin' me?" rumored Mayweather opponents. Two names spring to mind: Matthew Hatton and Paul Spadafora. Both of these guys were, at one point, rumored to face Mayweather in recent times. Neither happened. Neither was ever a serious possibility.

I don't even doubt that Golden Boy, in some kind of bizarre fit of psychotic logic, may have approached Morales to gauge his interest. The fight will be on Cinco de Mayo, and if the opponent isn't You-Know-Who (and it's not gonna be), then a Mexican star would make sense. Golden Boy has few on their roster, fewer still around Mayweather's weight. There's Victor Ortiz, Erik Morales, and Humberto Soto. Soto is new at Golden Boy, and not near name enough for even a mild consideration. Ortiz seems to be written off as an option.

That leaves Morales.

There is 10% of me horrified, utterly appalled, that this could actually happen.

But it probably won't.

If it does, respond with rage.