Pacquiao next bout set May 7

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is in no hurry to decide on his next opponent even if someone very close to him said it’s going to be Shane Mosley who will fight the Filipino superstar on May 7 in Las Vegas.

“Wala pa (Nothing yet),” said Pacquiao Tuesday evening during a special, closed-door dinner hosted for him by the Arums, Top Rank chief Bob and his gracious wife Lovee, at the Red Restaurant of Shangri-La Makati.

The Arums are in town, as well as Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, and world champion Juan Manuel Lopez. They will all fly to General Santos City tomorrow for Pacquiao’s grand birthday bash.

A source revealed that Mosley already has the inside track among the candidates, including Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto, mainly because of his popularity and ability to draw the pay-per-view numbers.

Pacquiao, however, is holding on to his decision, making sure that he likes everything written in the contract proposal submitted to him by Arum. It’s possible that he may be looking to add a little more spice to it.

The fight is going to be at 147 lb, and Pacquiao said he’s right on weight, walking around these days at 143 to 144.

Arum had hoped that Pacquiao could decide before he flies back home on Sunday. But yes, it seems that the ageless promoter will have to wait a little longer, probably even after the Christmas holidays.

“We need to work on the dates, the schedules, that’s why I wanted him to decide before I fly home,” said Arum.

Pacquiao will turn 32 tomorrow, and has over 1,500 people invited to his party. After Christmas, the congressman from Sarangani will fly to Japan and Australia for a long-delayed vacation with his family.

Over dinner, with just a dozen guests around the table, including Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson and his lovely companion, Roach, Juan Manuel Lopez, Mike Koncz and two scribes, Arum bared the new date.

Former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda R. Marcos, a very special friend of the Top Rank chief, was supposed to come, but because of her congressional duties she failed. Her grandson, Matthew Manotoc, came instead.

“The fight’s going to happen on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas,” said Arum, who had originally penciled April 16 as the date of Pacquiao’s next fight.