Report: Pacquiao-Floyd megabout almost done

Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao may yet tangle with comebacking superstar Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in his next gig, most likely on March 13, an internet site reported Wednesday. According to Yahoo! Sports, negotiations have gained ground and Mayweather's camp has already given the thumbs up on the proposed terms. As such, it said it's now up to Pacquiao to seal the the highly-awaited fight.

"The much-anticipated bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao is all but set for March 13," Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole wrote, quoting a source. "Mayweather has agreed to terms and (Pacquiao’s) promoter Bob Arum is making a trip to Manila, Philippines, to finalize a deal with Pacquiao," the website added. Negotiations for the potential Pacquiao-Mayweather superbout formally started this week in Las Vegas, with Top Rank’s Arum meeting with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who represents Mayweather. The Top Rank honcho is expected to arrive in Manila on Thursday, according to a separate report posted on PhilBoxing.Com, to supposedly present the offer to the Pacman. Public clamor for the Pacquiao-Mayweather gig, which is expected to be the highest-grossing fight in boxing history, has been at a high after both fighters manhandled their respective rivals recently. Mayweather, the former pound-for-pound king, thoroughly dominated Juan Manuel Marquez last September while Pacquiao stopped then WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto last November for a record seventh division title. Both fights breached 1 million in pay-per-view (PPV) buys. Details of the proposed megabuck fight, especially the purse split and weight to be contested, have not been divulged, except the choices for venue and date.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Yahoo! Sports reported that the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, and the New Orleans Superdome are in the shortlist for the site. Promoters have been initially targeting a May 1 schedule but were forced to move it up to March 13 due to Pacquiao’s political plans. The 30-year-old Pacquiao on Tuesday filed his certificate of candidacy for Sarangani’s seat at the House of Representatives in the May 2010 elections. He will be busy with political activities at the start of the campaign period in late March all the way through the voting proper in May. Another date being eyed, according to Yahoo! Sports, is September 2010. Aside from Mayweather, Team Pacquiao is also said to be considering other fighters like WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman of Israel, WBA welterweight holder Shane Mosley and WBC welterweight Andre Berto. - GMANews.TV