By Mark Vester
According to a report in The Philippine Star, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (52-3, 38KOs) is scheduled to return in the month of November. First, he must defeat "Sugar" Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If Pacquiao beats Mosley, then his promoter, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, will attempt to make a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25KOs).
The fight depends on the outcome of Mayweather's ongoing criminal court battles. Another name joining the fold is WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5, 38KOs). The Mexican champion recently turned down a deal to fight Erik Morales in order to allow his promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions to expire. Marquez wants to explore his options, with a third Pacquiao fight as the main target.
“Floyd is still our number one priority,” said Arum. “We want to find out if he’s available or what his legal status is. Right now I have no idea. If it’s Floyd, then certainly it’s Vegas. But if it’s Marquez, we might go somewhere else."