In an article at PhilStar.com, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is quoted quite interestingly about a potential showdown between his fighter, Manny Pacquiao, and former Top Rank star (now independent) Floyd Mayweather Jr.:
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said he’s not interested in negotiating a deal with Mayweather because of his distrust for his agent Al Haymon. Arum and Haymon had a falling out after they failed to arrange a fight between Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik. Arum accused Haymon of wrong-doing and called him “a Machiavellian SOB.”
“I have no dislike for Floyd whatsoever,” said Arum. “That’s not a factor. But negotiations have to be with somebody I trust. I don’t want to deal with any sleazebags.”
Mayweather and Haymon have worked together, and worked well together, for a number of years now. It's unlikely Mayweather would cast Haymon aside for a fight with Pacquiao.
Freddie Roach is also quoted as having asked Shane Mosley if he could get down to 142 pounds to fight Pacquiao. Mosley, as you would expect, said no. In a somewhat related piece of information, if Pacquiao fights Miguel Cotto (which is what Arum wants), they would do it at 147 pounds.
But my favorite part is this:
Another candidate is superwelterweight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. who’s itching to avenge the string of losses inflicted by Pacquiao on his Mexican countrymen.
Brushing aside Mayweather as a future opponent, Arum said Chavez is a more logical pick. “I’ll give you an even bigger fight, potentially, against Chavez,” Arum told reporters.
Wow. Talk about your all-time great promoter B.S. quotes. Pacquiao-JCC Jr. bigger than Pacquiao-Mayweather.
Early indications would lead me to believe that Pacquiao-Mayweather is still a long way off, if it will happen. If Arum and Haymon can't negotiate, that could kill it. But certainly, bigger hatchets have been buried to make people less money.