Arum: Floyd Mayweather’s Legal Issues Could Prevent Manny Pacquiao Fight

It’s not just Floyd Mayweather Jr. who appears to be avoiding a potential super fight with Manny Pacquiao — promoter Bob Arum isn’t giving many positive signs either. In an interview with Radio Rahim of Max Boxing, Arum expressed reservations about a potential Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

“It depends largely on something that’s out of everybody’s control — other than the fact that Manny still has to be [Juan Manuel] Marquez. But even if he does, does Mayweather beat the criminal justice system in Nevada? That’s the issue,” the promoter told Rahim.

“Who knows if Mayweather’s going to be around next year to fight? He has real problems. Does he get them solved? I don’t know. Before anybody starts talking about a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, they better ask themselves ‘What is Mayweather’s criminal situation and will he be around in 2012 to fight Pacquiao or anybody else?'”

That’s pretty weak if you ask me. Mayweather’s legal issues appear to be minor in nature, and they didn’t prevent him from facing Victor Ortiz. There’s little reason why they should prevent negotiations between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Sadly, it is sounding like Amir Khan vs. Floyd is much more likely to happen than Manny vs. Floyd.

Arum also responded to Dana White, who called out the “scumbag promoters” in boxing earlier this week. Arum, who was accused by the UFC president of not giving back to the sport, said the UFC hardly pays its fighters while boxers make a much larger percentage of the total purse. He’s right on that, and White is correct in what he said. Both men could learn from the other’s words and adjust accordingly.

But allow me to speak for all other boxing fans when I say that the next fight on both boxers’ agenda better be each other.