Pacquiao, Mayweather Jr. fight appears unlikely
Time may have run out to reach an agreement for a November showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., boxing’s two biggest stars.
With Mayweather not responding to a Friday deadline to commit to a Nov. 13 fight, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum announced that he will begin negotiations to have Pacquiao next appear in the ring on that date against either former world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito or a rematch with Miguel Cotto, who Pacquiao dominated last Nov. 14.
However, if Mayweather decides before a deal with either Margarito or Cotto is made, Pacquiao would take the fight with Mayweather.
“I will be talking with the Margarito camp and the Cotto camp this week,” Arum said. “Does that mean the Mayweather fight is dead? It’s dead when we conclude a deal for Manny’s fight in November. But if in the interim, Floyd said yes, he wants to do the fight, we would do the fight.”