Pacquiao won't stay idle, likely to fight in the fall

Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 No Comments
Labels: Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s rib injury, which postponed his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez next month, also might have altered Manny Pacquiao's immediate bout options.

The tempting matchmaking scenario had Pacquiao facing the Mayweather-Marquez winner for his next fight. But now that Mayweather will likely fight Marquez after Mayweather heals from his injury, Pacquiao doesn't expect to remain idle the rest of the year.

Pacquiao, the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter according to most experts, probably will fight again in the fall, perhaps within the window of the still non-rescheduled Mayweather-Marquez match.

If Pacquiao, now an established pay-per-view performer, opts for a marquee bout, Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto looms as the logical opponent.

Although Mosley representatives recently announced a Pacquiao-Mosley bout, Pacquiao denied such a fight has been signed. Nonetheless, Mosley certainly warrants an opportunity at facing Pacquiao.

Mosley, 37, dispelled any notion his career was on the descent after a ninth-round technical knockout victory over Antonio Margarito in January. The convincing performance earned Mosley a welterweight title and lofty status again in the talent-deep welterweight class.

Cotto also has reason to deserve a bout against Pacquiao. The Puerto Rico native made significant separation from his lone career loss against Margarito last July with a hard-fought, split-decision victory against Joshua Clottey on June 13.

Despite the setback against Margarito, Cotto remains one of the top and exciting fighters in the sport. A Pacquiao-Cotto bout will command attention.

And while Mosley's accomplishments also merit a fight date with Pacquiao, Cotto has one distinct advantage that could help him land the bout. Bob Arum promotes Pacquiao and Cotto, eliminating the promotional conflicts that have killed many potentially appealing bouts through the years.

BOXING CARD IN JULY

Deerfield Beach-based promoter Don King will have his second card of the year at BankAtlantic Center on July 11. The show will be headlined by a world bantamweight title fight between defending champion Joseph Agbeko and Vic Darchinyan.

A native of Ghana, Agbeko (26-1, 22 KOs) will make the second defense of his International Boxing Federation crown. Darchinyan, a native of Armenia and an Australia resident, will seek his third belt in a separate class after title reigns in the flyweight and junior-bantamweight divisions.

Darchinyan is 32-1 with 26 knockouts.

King's first show at BankAtlantic Center on Feb. 14 attracted more than 10,000 fans. In the main event, Jacksonville's Nate Campbell defeated Ali Funeka but lost his lightweight title after failing to make weight the 135-pound weight limit.