Manny Pacquiao Ready to Fight in 2012
As we noted on Opposing Views last week, Arum’s latest comments fall perfectly in line with the scenario he had been hoping for all along – one that guarantees Top Rank will milk one more solid pay day out of their No. 1 fighter before throwing him in the ring against his arch rival – Floyd Mayweather Jr. This way, regardless of whether he wins, loses or fights to a draw against his undefeated nemesis, this year will be a profitable one for Pacquiao and all the various entities that have a vested interest in the proceedings.
So far, the rumored potential candidates for the JV 2012 fight against Pacquiao have been Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Lamont Peterson and Miguel Cotto. Each challenger has certain positives and negatives attached that which will ultimately determine whether or not they’ll earn a slot in the main event come May or June, but Marquez and Bradley are probably the likeliest candidates. Peterson is a wild card that has gained some traction over the last week and a half, however, he doesn’t have the allure of either Marquez or Bradley because of the former’s strong showing against Pacquiao last November and the latter’s ties to Top Rank. Cotto is a long shot and, really, doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the other potential candidates.
(Manny Pacquiao Already Preparing for a Hectic 2012 Schedule)
Right now the likely options for Pacquiao are:
Juan Manuel Marquez: A fourth fight between the two is desired by both fighters, and it's what Bob Arum wants, at least if he's stayed consistent since their third bout on November 12. The hiccups are clear: Marquez will want a lot of money, says he won't fight Pacquiao in Vegas again (Texas is OK, though), and isn't going to act like a pure B-side in negotiations. But Marquez does want it. That much is known.
Miguel Cotto: Cotto makes money and makes sense from a business standpoint. We have heard on our site some fans balking about whether or not it's competitive. I have admitted many times I'm a bigger fan of their first fight than many were, so I'm OK with it, but I do believe there would be some "this again?" backlash even more than a fourth fight with Marquez would see.
Timothy Bradley: Tim is ready and willing. It's all about whether or not Top Rank thinks the time is right to go this route, or whether or not he becomes the best option by process of elimination.
Lamont Peterson: The dark horse. Peterson says he's ready to go. I think this is option number four, really. Peterson has increased value after upsetting Amir Khan, but is definitely not a star, and isn't in any better a position than Bradley. Bradley, unlike Peterson, is promoted by Top Rank. This matters.
(Manny Pacquiao's Next Fight: Options To Be Discussed With the Fighter, by Scott Christ)
RingTV.com caught up to Barry Hunter, the trainer of newly-crowned IBF/WBA junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson, and he gave his thoughts on the fact that since beating Amir Khan, the 27-year-old Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KOs) has become a candidate to face RING No. 1-rated pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs).
Peterson, who earned $650,000 to Khan's $1.1 million, is reported to be under consideration along with other options for Pacquiao, which include a fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez and bouts opposite WBO junior welterweight beltholder Tim Bradley or WBA junior middleweight titleholder Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told RingTV.com that he sees Peterson as "a great opponent for Manny Pacquiao if the fight (with WBC welterweight titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr.) does not happen."
(Q&A Hunter: Peterson is ready for Pacquiao, Khan, whoever, by Lem Satterfield)
And while Marquez would end up losing a highly-debated majority-decision, his performance spoke volumes about how much ability and passion he still has at this point in his career. A fourth fight with Pacquiao still looks to be a serious option and in a recent interview with RingTV.com’s Lem Satterfield, Hernandez stated that Marquez has already agreed to work with him again.
"We're just waiting for the confirmation of the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez,” Hernandez told Satterfield. “I believe that Mr. Bob Arum should be meeting with Zanfer Promotions, Fernando Beltran, Marquez's promoter. They're going to discuss whether or not the fight is going to be done or who Marquez is going to fight next.”
The most lucrative fight for Pacquiao is a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. but the undefeated superstar was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail for his involvement in a September 2010 domestic violence case with his former fiancé’ Josie Harris and two of his children. Mayweather is scheduled to begin his sentence on January 6th, leaving his proposed May 5th return practically by the wayside.
(Angel Hernandez says Pacquiao is unsure whether to face Marquez a fourth time, by Chris Robinson, Las Vegas Boxing Examiner)
So far, the rumored potential candidates for the JV 2012 fight against Pacquiao have been Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Lamont Peterson and Miguel Cotto. Each challenger has certain positives and negatives attached that which will ultimately determine whether or not they’ll earn a slot in the main event come May or June, but Marquez and Bradley are probably the likeliest candidates. Peterson is a wild card that has gained some traction over the last week and a half, however, he doesn’t have the allure of either Marquez or Bradley because of the former’s strong showing against Pacquiao last November and the latter’s ties to Top Rank. Cotto is a long shot and, really, doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the other potential candidates.
(Manny Pacquiao Already Preparing for a Hectic 2012 Schedule)
Right now the likely options for Pacquiao are:
Juan Manuel Marquez: A fourth fight between the two is desired by both fighters, and it's what Bob Arum wants, at least if he's stayed consistent since their third bout on November 12. The hiccups are clear: Marquez will want a lot of money, says he won't fight Pacquiao in Vegas again (Texas is OK, though), and isn't going to act like a pure B-side in negotiations. But Marquez does want it. That much is known.
Miguel Cotto: Cotto makes money and makes sense from a business standpoint. We have heard on our site some fans balking about whether or not it's competitive. I have admitted many times I'm a bigger fan of their first fight than many were, so I'm OK with it, but I do believe there would be some "this again?" backlash even more than a fourth fight with Marquez would see.
Timothy Bradley: Tim is ready and willing. It's all about whether or not Top Rank thinks the time is right to go this route, or whether or not he becomes the best option by process of elimination.
Lamont Peterson: The dark horse. Peterson says he's ready to go. I think this is option number four, really. Peterson has increased value after upsetting Amir Khan, but is definitely not a star, and isn't in any better a position than Bradley. Bradley, unlike Peterson, is promoted by Top Rank. This matters.
(Manny Pacquiao's Next Fight: Options To Be Discussed With the Fighter, by Scott Christ)
RingTV.com caught up to Barry Hunter, the trainer of newly-crowned IBF/WBA junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson, and he gave his thoughts on the fact that since beating Amir Khan, the 27-year-old Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KOs) has become a candidate to face RING No. 1-rated pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs).
Peterson, who earned $650,000 to Khan's $1.1 million, is reported to be under consideration along with other options for Pacquiao, which include a fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez and bouts opposite WBO junior welterweight beltholder Tim Bradley or WBA junior middleweight titleholder Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told RingTV.com that he sees Peterson as "a great opponent for Manny Pacquiao if the fight (with WBC welterweight titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr.) does not happen."
(Q&A Hunter: Peterson is ready for Pacquiao, Khan, whoever, by Lem Satterfield)
And while Marquez would end up losing a highly-debated majority-decision, his performance spoke volumes about how much ability and passion he still has at this point in his career. A fourth fight with Pacquiao still looks to be a serious option and in a recent interview with RingTV.com’s Lem Satterfield, Hernandez stated that Marquez has already agreed to work with him again.
"We're just waiting for the confirmation of the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez,” Hernandez told Satterfield. “I believe that Mr. Bob Arum should be meeting with Zanfer Promotions, Fernando Beltran, Marquez's promoter. They're going to discuss whether or not the fight is going to be done or who Marquez is going to fight next.”
The most lucrative fight for Pacquiao is a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. but the undefeated superstar was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail for his involvement in a September 2010 domestic violence case with his former fiancé’ Josie Harris and two of his children. Mayweather is scheduled to begin his sentence on January 6th, leaving his proposed May 5th return practically by the wayside.
(Angel Hernandez says Pacquiao is unsure whether to face Marquez a fourth time, by Chris Robinson, Las Vegas Boxing Examiner)
