Arum mulls Macau tiff for Manny in October

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao’s much-awaited comeback has been moved to October from September, and his promoter, Bob Arum, said the fight will most likely take place in Macau.

Arum yesterday told The STAR on the phone that negotiations are still on, and that everything could be finalized within the next few days.

“Things could be finalized by the end of the week. But we’re now looking at October,” said Arum. 

The chief of Top Rank Promotions didn’t mention a definite opponent yet even though the latest reports said Mike Alvarado of Colorado now has the inside track as Pacquiao’s next foe.

A report said Alvarado’s manager, Henry Delgado, had hinted that the fight with Pacquiao is almost a done deal.

Pacquiao wants a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez following his bitter knockout loss to the Mexican last December in Las Vegas.

But the Mexican superstar, who’s turning 40 in August, said he finds no reason to fight Pacquiao a fifth time, and the only way he’d do it is if he is paid $20 million.

Marquez, who was guaranteed $6 million for the last fight, is apparently looking at Timothy Bradley or Brandon Rios as his opponent on Sept. 14 either in Las Vegas or Mexico.

Arum was asked if Marquez or Bradley remains part of the negotiations for Pacquiao’s next fight, but he did not give any conclusive answer.

“Things are being finalized,” he said.

Arum said they started considering October because that’s the date “the people of The Venetian Hotel want.”

Two weeks ago, Arum staged the first big boxing card at The Venetian, featuring China’s two-time Olympic champion Zou Shiming and Filipino Brian Viloria.

Arum was greatly impressed with the reception in Macau, and described the Asia’s gambling capital as the next boxing capital of the world. 

“It’s Las Vegas on steroids,” he kept on saying.