Pacquiao to fight Mosley May 7 at MGM Grand

With Mayweather mired in legal problems, Pacquiao has agreed to meet Shane Mosley May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden. The 12-round bout will be contested at 147 pounds for the WBO welterweight title. Both sides signed off on the deal Tuesday after several weeks of negotiations.

“It’s going to be a great event; Manny’s very excited about coming back to Las Vegas,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, a freshman congressman in the Philippines. “He missed Vegas, said he wanted his next fight to be there.

“When I was in the Philippines last week, all people were asking me was ‘When is Manny going to fight in Las Vegas again?’ “

Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) also considered facing WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto or fighting lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time.

But the 39-year-old Mosley (46-6-1 39 KOs) is believed to be the most attractive opponent for Pacquiao, both inside and outside the ring.

“Mosley has the best name recognition,” Arum said. “People know him and he’s been in many big fights.

“Berto doesn’t have the name recognition and outside of hard-core boxing fans, neither does Marquez.”

Arum would not disclose financial details, though Pacquiao will receive the major share of the purse. Mosley told ESPN.com he is guaranteed a minimum of $5 million. Arum also would not comment on who the Pay-Per-View provider will be.

“It was a very civil negotiation,” Arum said of the conversations he had over the last seven weeks with James Prince, Mosley’s manager. “They were reasonable but we disagreed on some points. In the end, it all got worked out.”

Mosley and Prince first approached Arum in early November, a few days prior to Pacquiao’s fight with Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

After Pacquiao destroyed Margarito in taking a 12-round decision on Nov. 13, Mosley, who was at the fight, told reporters he was leaving Golden Boy Promotions to get in the ring with Pacquiao.

The sides continued to have a dialogue following the fight, and when Arum went to see Pacquiao in the Philippines last week, he had Mosley’s offer.

Monday, Prince met with Arum and Top Rank president Todd duBoef at Arum’s Las Vegas office to go over the details. After some tweaking Tuesday, the two sides had a deal.

Arum said Top Rank will control 100 percent of the Pacquiao-Mosley promotion. Arum will meet with MGM Grand officials in early January to go over details, with the official launch expected to be in early February when tickets will go on sale.

Mosley, who lost to Mayweather May 1, is coming off a 12-round draw against Sergio Mora Sept. 18 in Los Angeles. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime trainer, said his fighter won’t underestimate Mosley, a four-time world champion.

“Sure, Mosley didn’t look good against Mora, but what if the Mosley who beat up Margarito shows up?” Roach said.

Mosley said he hopes Pacquiao does indeed overlook him.

“I know that they think I’m an old man and that Manny is going to beat me. Let them think that,” Mosley told ESPN.com.

“I still have power and speed. They thought I was done before I knocked out Margarito, too,” Mosley said. ”So they can think whatever they want. I know what I can do.”

Arum said the plan will be for Pacquiao to begin training in the Philippines, then come to Los Angeles five weeks out to train at Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club.

“Everything’s all set,” Arum said. “Everyone’s excited and it’s going to be a great night May 7.”

Contact sports reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or at 702-387-2913.