Floyd Mayweather Calls Out Manny Pacquiao; Seeks May 5th Fight in Las Vegas

Published on January 11, 2012 by Sport Team · No Comments

Boxing fans have been waiting a long time for a bout between WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao. Negotiations between the two camps over the last couple of years have failed to resolve certain differences to everyone’s satisfaction so it hasn’t happened yet. Mayweather has May 5th reserved for a fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but has no opponent lined up yet. Seems perfect for that long awaited matchup with Pacquiao, and Manny’s promoter, Bob Arum , has said in he’d like to have them fight.

There was a problem, however. Mayweather was scheduled to begin serving an 87 day sentence in a Las Vegas jail on a domestic battery charge, so it looked like there would be no fight. But the sentencing judge was convinced to move the start of the sentence to June 1st because of the enormous economic impact that May 5th fight would have on Las Vegas.

That cleared the way for the Mayweather—Pacquiao bout, or so it would seem. But Arum said Pacquiao wouldn’t be ready because he needed time for a cut he received in his last fight in November to heal and May would be too soon. (Must be a heckuva cut to need that long to heal. Just sayin’). Arum said June 9th would be “perfect”. Well, not for Mayweather, as he will be serving his jail sentence.

A frustrated Mayweather took to Twitter on January 10th to call out Pacquiao directly. “Manny Pacquiao I’m calling you out let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see,” he tweeted. A moment later he added “My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk”. The on January 11th, Mayweather tweeted “I’m ready to put my belt up. What about you, Manny Pacquiao? Let’s make history.”

Arum continues to insist that Pacquiao will not fight before June and is trying to find an opponent for a bout in that month. The only chance for a May 5th matchup between the two champs hinges on if Pacquiao overrules Arum. At this point, a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight remains frustratingly out of reach.

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