Promoters Dela Hoya, Arum in talks for Pacquiao-Alvarez—report

Oscar de la Hoya (AFP FILE PHOTO), Bob Arum (AP FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Top Rank honcho Bob Arum and Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya are reportedly in talks to pursue a super bout between Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

In an interview with Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles times, Dela Hoya said that “anything’s possible. That’s one of the reasons I was extending the olive branch. The fans want to see these kinds of fights.”

If the fight materializes, it could end the promoters’ alleged long-standing feud, dubbed the “cold war,” which has resulted in several attractive match-ups getting shelved.

The two major promotion firms have not collaborated on a “fight with substance” in the last half a decade, the report said.

But Arum cleared that he doesn’t have any problem dealing with the boxing legend-turned promoter, who used to be one of his prized fighters.

“All this baloney about a cold war has never really applied to Oscar and myself. We can talk bout any subject in boxing rationally. … We might disagree on a particular point, but we can talk. I hope we’ll get together and have some significant meetings in the near future,” the Hall of Fame promoter said.

Alvarez, one of Golden Boy’s top fighters, is set to fight Erislandy Lara on July 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, while Pacquiao, Arum’s biggest star,  is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley last April 12.

RELATED STORIES

Pacquiao-Mayweather still a pipe dream

Golden Boy, Top Rank duel for Donaire