MGM hosts Manny's next fight

MANILA, Philippines – While things are on hold as to who fights Manny Pacquiao next, what looks certain is that MGM, for the third straight time, will host the fight of the Filipino superstar.

“I’m pretty sure it will be MGM,” Bob Arum told The STAR over the telephone.

Pacquiao has fought his last two fights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, packing the venue as he demolished Oscar dela Hoya last December and Ricky Hatton a month ago.

Arum said it’s always good to keep the fight in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world.

“It’s a good place because of all the casinos there,” said Arum.

Pacquiao has fought five times at the MGM, and has gone 3-1-1 with another victory over Lehlo Ledwaba in 2001, a draw with Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004 and a loss to Erik Morales in 2005.

Las Vegas has also been good to Pacquiao, who’s actually 8-1-1 in Sin City with two victories over Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center in 2006, and big wins over Marco Antonio Barrera (‘07), Marquez (‘08) and David Diaz (‘08) at the Mandalay Bay.

A month ago, right after Pacquiao stormed past Hatton in two rounds, Arum said he got a lot of calls from people wanting to host the next fight of the charismatic Filipino pound-for-pound champion.

Arum mentioned Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, as one of those who wanted to host the fight at The New Stadium, as well as offers from Abu Dhabi, San Francisco and New York.

But it seems that MGM has got a lock on Pacquiao’s next fight – unless somebody offers the moon to stage it elsewhere.

Arum also welcomed news that Shane Mosley, the WBA welterweight champion, has aired his desire to fight Pacquiao at a catch weight of under 147 lb.

“Yes, I understand. But I don’t know,” said Arum, who’s also looking at Miguel Cotto, another welterweight champion, and Edwin Valero, the knockout artist from Venezuela, as candidates.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez, who will square off on July 18 in Las Vegas, are also in the mix.

“It will all depend on Manny. It depends on what (or whom) he wants,” said Arum, who added that the decision might come in the days after Cotto fights Josh Clottey at the Madison Square Garden on June 13.

The night before that, Pacquiao will be in New York to receive his 2008 Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America. His trainer, Freddie Roach, will receive the top award, on the same night.

“After June 13, we will get to it seriously,” said the Top Rank president.

“I won’t come up with any name until after June 13,” he added. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)