by Hans Olson

“Obviously, I will discuss Mayweather with Manny when I get over there,” said Bob Arum to Boxing Scene writer Michael Marley Friday afternoon. This was after Marley had asked Arum if Floyd’s jail sentence being delayed until June opens up negotiations for the biggest fight in the world.

And then, Arum said this:

“But Manny won’t fight early in May. Once we know we’ve got a Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, if and when, then we’re going forward with erecting a 40,000-seat stadium on the [Las Vegas] strip. The soonest we could have that stadium up and operating is the end of May. I also have to consider the cut eye Manny suffered with Marquez.”

Wait a minute here…

Arum continued…

“I have to check the status of Manny’s eye and I will do that.”

So now Manny Pacquiao’s eye is an issue? Why wasn’t it an issue when just a few weeks back, Arum was considering scooping up the May 5 date for Pacquiao/Marquez IV? Numerous members of the media were savvy to Arum’s plans…and Marquez himself alluded to this in an interview with another Boxing Scene writer Miguel Rivera late last year. In the interview, Marquez said “regarding the rematch with Pacquiao, I hope that it happens on May 5, and I hope they respect my terms—one of which is not to stage the fight in Vegas.”

Obviously, the importance here isn’t the fact that the MGM Grand’s location was to be taken (or not taken if Marquez were to get his wish), it’s the fact that a major PPV occurring on Cinco De Mayo weekend was going to be available…and Arum knew it. If Pacquiao was ready to go then, why not now?

Could it be that maybe, just maybe, Bob Arum and Top Rank simply have no desire to match Manny Pacquiao with Floyd Mayweather? We all KNOW that Manny Pacquiao will fight him…why do those who protect him not have the same belief that Manny himself does?

The excuses are getting old. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Drug tests. Needles. Blood. Political races. Cuts. Purse splits. Lawsuits.

Manny Pacquiao’s team is again doing everything in their power to avoid Floyd Mayweather.

Another day, another round of excuses…

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