Pacquiao parties, but his choice of May 7 opponent remains unfinished business

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A 32nd birthday party for Manny Pacquiao was staged Friday in the Philippines, but the boxer has yet to decide on who he’ll fight next, on May 7 in Las Vegas, his promoter said.

Top Rank President Todd duBoef said company chairman Bob Arum will return from the Philippines Sunday and begin working ‘toward a final decision sometime later next week,’ duBoef said.

Pacquiao is believed to have at least narrowed his choices to welterweight champion Shane Mosley of Pomona or lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico. Welterweight champ Andre Berto also had an offer on the table, but duBoef said, ‘Marquez and Mosley are more marketable.’

‘Manny has expressed everything with Bob, so with that input and direction, we’ll work to tighten the parameters of the deal in the next week with those involved, and move forward,’ duBoef said.

-- Lance Pugmire