Hopes for the dream bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Filipino Manny Pacquiao are as good as dead. Despite time for Mayweather to address the contract, former Pacquiao trainer Alex Ariza says the Mayweather will fight on May 2 but it won't be against Pacquiao.
The reason? Bob Arum.
It is no secret that Mayweather is not at ease as far as dealing with Bob Arum and Top Rank is concerned. Per Ariza, as long a Arum is in the picture, that dream fight will stay up there as it is – a dream.
"It's not going to happen. We're fighting May 2nd but it's not going to be Manny Pacquiao," says Ariza via Boxingscene.com. "Hopefully eventually Bob Arum will blow away in the wind or whatever. As soon as we get rid of him, we can get it on."
Pacquiao and his camp have agreed to all the terms set forth by Mayweather but apparently the issue has become personal.
"Bob Arum has been the roadblock, he has deceived the people, he has lied to the people from the beginning," Ariza said in an article from the New York Daily News.
<center>Ariza was fired as Pacquiao's strengthening coach two years ago and is now a part of the Mayweather entourage. He added that several opponents have already been lined up for May 2. Unfortunately there is no official word yet on who those would be although the names of Miguel Cotto or even Canelo Alvarez have been floating around in the rumor mill.
On the other hand, Pacquiao has also drawn up his list of possible next opponents as well. Amir Khan is at the top of the list but the names of Miguel Cotto and Jesse Vargas are also said to be among potential opponents.
