Pacquiao agrees to 2010 showdown with Floyd

The mouth-watering 12-round showdown between the current and former holders of the mythical pound-for-pound title would likely take place next year. This was confirmed by the seven-division king himself when interviewed by 24 Oras after emerging from a meeting with Top Rank big boss Bob Arum Friday night. Pacquiao said he agreed for the March 13 mega-fight with Mayweather and instructed Arum to iron out all details in order for both boxers to finally seal the deal. Arum will still negotiate the details of the contract, like the weight where they will be fighting and the purse split, with Golden Boy’s Richard Schaeffer, whom Mayweather has tapped to deal with the camp of the seven-division world champion.
Pacquiao said the trash-talking Mayweather is not a good role model for kids, who regularly look up to athletes as their heroes. “He (Mayweather) is full of thrash talk whom the children should not emulate." He also advised trainer Freddie Roach and his fans not to worry about his condition even though he only has less than four months after fighting Cotto, whom he defeated via a 12-round technical knockout to wrest the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight crown. Pacquiao also received a severe beating from Cotto before collecting his seventh weight division world title. Pacquiao said that he needs to take good care of his body since he would be up against a tougher opponent and he is not getting any younger. He admitted that he agreed to take on the fight despite its close proximity to the Philippine national elections, where he will be seeking a congressional seat in Saranggani. One of the bone of contention still to be discussed is the weight in which the bout will be fought. Sources privy to the negotiations said that the bout will be at 147 pounds, although Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has indicated many times in the past that they want Mayweather at 145. – GMANews.TV