New scenario for May 5 fight

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is scheduled to fly to Manila this Tuesday to discuss the next fight of eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
Arum is expected to present to the Sarangani congressman four potential opponents in the projected May 5 tiff which does not include Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was to serve a 90-day jail term this January.
Arum said the four possibilities include a rematch with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, a fourth meeting with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez and first time bouts with American junior welterweight world champions Tim Bradley and Lamont Peterson.
That was the scenario two days ago.
Yesterday, the picture drastically changed when a Las Vegas judge (See story on A20) granted an appeal by Floyd Jr. to delay the serving of his sentence.
Mayweather advisers told the judge that the undefeated American boxer has made the appeal because he previously committed to a “mega fight” on May 5 which the whole world has been waiting for.
The advisers failed to name Mayweather’s opponent in this mega fight.
“Because Mayweather has an obligation to fulfill I will grant his request for postponement and re-schedule his jail sentence to a later date,” the judge ruled.
The Mayweather camp said they will be making an announcement regarding the details of the May 5 fight in due time.
“It seems to me bizarre, but who am I to say?” Arum was quoted upon hearing of the latest development.
Arum said his concern at this point is that the deep cut Manny sustained above his right eye during his last fight with Marquez might not be fully healed when he starts sparring in April for the May 5 fight.
“I don’t know if Manny will be ready for his next fight in May,” said Arum.
Neither does Arum know who Manny will fight if he is ready to fight in May.
The Pacquiao and Mayweather camps have attempted to close a deal for a fight three times but have failed on all three occasions.
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I already had an idea what his answer would be, but I just had to ask GTK anyway.
“What is your crusade for 2012?” I asked the Patafa head on the phone yesterday, moments after I read in the papers that one more gold medal may be added to Philippine athletics in last year’s Southeast Asian Games.
GTK said he would be going after POC president Peping Cojuangco for his many sins and the National Sports Associations with unliquidated expenses. And those who conspired to expel him from his post, he added.
“As a taxpayer, I have the right to question how the government’s money was spent,” he said.
“2012 is a time to get back at all those who conspired against me. It’s payback time! I am now launching my full offensive so people may see the dirty hands of the guilty. They have to face the consequences of having robbed and plundered people’s money.”
“To the POC head, and his co-conspirators in the executive board, and the NSA leaders whom I treated as brothers in the Olympic family but were intimidated and hostaged by the system that declared me persona non grata and blindly signed for my expulsion and denying me due process, brace yourselves for the inevitable karma going your way!” warned GTK.