Monterray As Possible Host To November 13 Boxing Match

10:49 PM // 0 comments // Ian Purugganan // Category: Cotto , Margarito , Pacquiao //

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is planning on a trip to Monterrey, the Mexican city being eyed to host Manny Pacquiao’s Nov. 13 fight with Antonio Margarito. Arum, chilling out in his Los Angeles vacation home, said Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz would also make the trip there as they explore the possibilities of staging Pacquiao’s bout there. The decision to visit Monterrey was arrived at Monday as Arum began holding talks with prospective Pacquiao opponents: Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto and the Mexican Margarito.

Regarding the press statement that Floyd Mayweather issued on Monday, Arum could not help but blow his top.

A press statement was issued by Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe, denying that a negotiation for a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather ever took place.

“Here are the facts. Al Haymon, (Golden Boy Promotions CEO) Richard Schaefer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13,” said Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe.

“Either (HBO Sports president) Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth, but history tells us who is lying,” added Ellerbe in the statement.

Arum had set a July 16 deadline for Mayweather to respond, something Mayweather totally ignored. A day after the ultimatum lapsed, Mayweather told the Associated Press that he was not interested in fighting this year.

Arum said he was in constant touch with Greenburg regarding supposed negotiations that took place the past several weeks and wondered why would Ellerbe say that since there was even a gag order in place.

Even GBP owner Oscar De La Hoya was interviewed by a Spanish-language TV station a few weeks ago, saying a deal was close to being sealed.

What Arum has learned from this incident is that it’s a lot easier dealing with his arch-nemesis Don King than “these guys.”

“I feel like I am (like) in (an episode of) Twilight Zone. Don is normal compared to these guys,” said Arum.

[Boxing News Source: Fightnews.com]