by Hans Olson

The clock is ticking for Manny Pacquiao to make a decision.

Yes, a clock is ticking.

Does everyone remember that time clock Top Rank had on it’s website back in the summer of 2010? That was when promoter Bob Arum said Floyd Mayweather had to decide by a certain date what he was going to do when it came to fighting Manny Pacquiao. Anyone? Does everyone remember that ridiculous late-night teleconference with the media explaining that since Floyd isn’t making a decision by said cut-off date, that he is going forward with the already set-aside date in November against Antonio Margarito?

Well the tables have now turned, and it’s time for Manny Pacquiao to tell Bob Arum to make the fight.

According to a TMZ report with Pacquiao’s trainer Freddy Roach, Pacquiao and Arum are currently discussing if they will fight Floyd on May 5. The apparent issue is if they can delay the options of fighting guys like Miguel Cotto, Lamont Peterson, Timothy Bradley, and Juan Manuel Marquez in order to make a deal to fight Mayweather. Roach told TMZ “He should look in the mirror. He’s been ducking us for 2 years,” when referencing the tweets Mayweather has sent out through his @floydmayweather Twitter account calling out the Filipino icon.

Tick, tick, tick…

The thing is, contrary to what Freddie Roach is saying…with all due respect, it has not been Floyd Mayweather who has been ducking Manny Pacquiao over the past two years. There are many things that people often forget. When the argument is made that Floyd Mayweather is not properly negotiating because he already has a set date of May 5…a few things are to be considered.

First, why was it that during the original negotiation period in late 2009, early 2010 that Manny Pacquiao had to fight in March, rather than in May? It was due to his intention of running for political office, and fighting in May would have made his campaign impossible. How is that Floyd’s fault? It must be noted, that the proposed date by Pacquiao’s team was agreed upon by Floyd…March 13. Ultimately, when Manny refused to take strict Olympic style drug testing, Floyd chose the next best thing that May…Shane Mosley. Shane was a fighter many had said Floyd “ducked” for years. This was also a Shane Mosley who was coming off of a career best performance against Antonio Margarito…not the shot Shane Mosley served up on a platter to Manny Pacquiao a year later.

Then there was that aforementioned “ticking time clock” Top Rank’s website ran in an attempt to goad Floyd into signing with…once again—a set date.

Well, the awful truth is that now Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao are not in control.

My advice to Manny Pacquiao is this:

May 5.

That’s the date.

Take it, or leave it.

You are one of the top-3 fighters in the world, pound for pound.

Do not continue to be a puppet for your promoter.

This is your legacy fight.

Step up.

Boxing Insider’s Hans Olson can be reached at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @hansolson.

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