PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — BRACE for a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. mega-fight come 2010.
In the event both boxing superstars hurdle their respective coming fights, the path to a multi-million showdown is expected to be sealed and delivered in what could yet be the biggest ever fight in the rich history of prize fighting.
A highly reliable source within the Pacquiao camp confirmed that the unbeaten Mayweather is now within the radar of the Filipino ring icon, provided of course, he gets past tough Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in their World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight showdown on Nov. 14.
Mayweather also has to make his side of the bargain by beating durable Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez when they face-off next week in a 12-round non-title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Pag nanalo kami parehas ni Mayweather, kami na ang next na mag-lalaban,” the source quoted Pacquiao as saying shortly after the small entourage of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter arrived in San Francisco to promote his title fight with Cotto.
“May mga pag-uusap na,” added the same source on the possibility of a mega-buck match.
First things first, Pacquiao needs to concentrate on the 28-year old Cotto, whom he considers as the biggest and hardest fight of his career.
“Focus muna tayo kay Cotto,” said the Pacman.
Pacquiao is guaranteed to earn $13 million in the Cotto fight, plus a lucrative cut in the pay-per-view earnings.
The amount is expected to double in the event he collides with Mayweather Jr, whose highly-anticipated match with the great Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 generated a record pay-per-view of 2.5 million buys.
The 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medalist is coming off a two-year retirement. He was generally regarded as the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world until he hang up his gloves in 2007.
Pacquiao’s eight round demolition of De La Hoya last December was a big hit as well with 1.25 PPV.
Following a whirlwind promotion of his fight in Cotto’s hometown in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Pacquiao was flown in by Top Rank Promotions in Los Angeles, where the week-long, five city tour is expected to end Tuesday.
He and Cotto dropped by the AT& T Park in San Francisco to hype the fight and at the same time, watched the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The two protagonists meet each other for the last time at the Beverly Hills Hotel Monday for the final conference of the press tour.