Pacquiao expresses interest in Mosley fight

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Boxing’s pound-for-pound top fighter Manny Pacquiao told a Filipino news organization today that he would be willing to fight Pomona’s world welterweight champion Shane Mosley later this year, pending negotiations.

Though Mosley’s camp was quick to announce Pacquiao’s interest, saying Mosley would agree to fight at a catch weight between 140 and 147 pounds and accept a 60-40 split of the purse in Pacquiao’s favor for a bout that could be fought Oct. 17, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum was more reserved.

‘This has absolutely no credibility to it. Manny hasn’t decided who he’s going to fight,’ Arum said. ‘It could be Mosley, or it could be [Miguel] Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather Jr., [Juan Manuel] Marquez or [Edwin] Valero. They’re all in the mix.’

Arum said, ‘Shane’s a good guy, he’s definitely in the picture,’ but Arum insisted Pacquiao will make no decision about his next opponent until watching the June 13 world welterweight title fight between Cotto and Joshua Clottey.

‘Why would I eliminate options?’ said Arum, who confirmed he was contacted today about a possible Pacquiao-Mosley bout by Mosley’s promoter Richard Schaefer. ‘I’ve also heard from Manny’s people that he wants to wait and see the Mayweather-Marquez fight [July 18] before he agrees to anything. That would mean we won’t be ready until November.

‘All that he’s said is that he’s willing to fight Mosley. But he still has to explore the best deal.’

-- Lance Pugmire