If reports are to be believed, Manny Pacquiao’s much-anticipated encounter with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will push through in March. Evidently, Top Rank’s Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions’ Richard Schaefer have managed to iron out kinks in the welterweight bout, a not inconsiderable breakthrough in light of the star power of the protagonists and the potential of their set-to to break existing records on gate and pay-per-view receipts.
Information culled by ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael had Arum flying to the Philippines yesterday in order to get Pacquiao’s green light on the agreements reached by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions. And considering the historical significance of the affair, the People’s Champ is expected to give it, never mind his mother Dionisia’s preference for him to stay away from the ring and his busy schedule leading up to the May 2010 elections.
Under the circumstances, it’s fair to speculate on Pacquiao’s readiness for the fight in light of his political commitments. Campaigning for a congressional seat, his popularity notwithstanding, is no joke, and figures to be an even more complicated undertaking if juxtaposed with the training he requires for the biggest encounter of his pugilistic career. Then again, it’s not as if he’s not used to juggling his time between his numerous, and sometimes conflicting, engagements. In fact, it has been often argued that he thrives in seemingly chaotic settings highlighted by the sheer number of his entourage.
In the final analysis, Pacquiao knows what’s best for him; not for nothing is he the only boxer in the history of the sport to have claimed a title in seven different weight classes. Should he thumb up the battle with Mayweather, he will most assuredly be ready to answer the bell. He understands that he cannot fail, and not just because his opponent is ripe for the picking.
Information culled by ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael had Arum flying to the Philippines yesterday in order to get Pacquiao’s green light on the agreements reached by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions. And considering the historical significance of the affair, the People’s Champ is expected to give it, never mind his mother Dionisia’s preference for him to stay away from the ring and his busy schedule leading up to the May 2010 elections.
Under the circumstances, it’s fair to speculate on Pacquiao’s readiness for the fight in light of his political commitments. Campaigning for a congressional seat, his popularity notwithstanding, is no joke, and figures to be an even more complicated undertaking if juxtaposed with the training he requires for the biggest encounter of his pugilistic career. Then again, it’s not as if he’s not used to juggling his time between his numerous, and sometimes conflicting, engagements. In fact, it has been often argued that he thrives in seemingly chaotic settings highlighted by the sheer number of his entourage.
In the final analysis, Pacquiao knows what’s best for him; not for nothing is he the only boxer in the history of the sport to have claimed a title in seven different weight classes. Should he thumb up the battle with Mayweather, he will most assuredly be ready to answer the bell. He understands that he cannot fail, and not just because his opponent is ripe for the picking.
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