Ned Dishman - Getty Images
Richard Schaefer believes that Bob Arum has already mapped out the late spring and early summer for his biggest fighters. (Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images)
Since Bob Arum always likes to make great, bold statements about what Golden Boy will do with Floyd Mayweather (he's whiffed thus far on predictions of Erik Morales and Robert Guerrero facing Floyd on May 5), Richard Schaefer has decided to make his picks on what Arum plans to do with his top fighters in the near future:
"What Bob wants to do is have Pacquiao fight Timothy Bradley, and he wants Juan Manuel Marquez to fight Peterson, and he wants Cotto to fight Chavez Jr. ... Let's just say that I have my sources that he wants to have Pacquiao fight Bradley. I have my sources. End of story."
My favorite thing about Richard Schaefer is the way he always repeats things like he's Jimmy Two Times. Later he says, "We're working diligently. I'm working diligently with the Money Team, and you know, we'll see."
"We'll see" is another Schaefer staple.
Anyway, none of the fights are exactly shockers, and at least his predictions seem within the realm of reality, unlike Arum's nutty Morales pick. Even Robert Guerrero had a PR guy banging on the doors of every boxing media member for two months.
Todd duBoef said yesterday that Top Rank is considering matching Miguel Cotto with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in July if Cotto isn't chosen to face Manny Pacquiao in June. It's a money fight for Top Rank and both fighters, and almost happened back in December 2010, but Cotto took some time off instead to deal with a minor shoulder injury.
Marquez seems at least a little bit interested in fighting Lamont Peterson, too. In a Q&A with Lem Satterfield, Marquez said Peterson would be a "great" potential opponent for him if he doesn't land the Pacquiao fight.
As for Pacquiao vs Bradley, I think that would take some pushing from someone other than Manny himself. Or at least that would seem to be the feeling so far. If this were a political race to face Pacquiao in June, I think right now the leaders are, in order, Cotto, Marquez, Bradley and Peterson.
But there is one big thing that could put Bradley ahead of Marquez: Gate money. Since Marquez refuses to fight Pacquiao in Nevada again, that means no big Vegas gate. That probably means going to Texas, where Pacquiao drew mediocre numbers (for him) against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito, because you simply can't charge the same type of money for a ticket in Texas that you can in Las Vegas. Bradley would fight Pacquiao in Vegas, and the fight would be worth more money at the gate -- a lot more. About as bad as that could really do is $8 million at the gate, and about as well as Pacquiao vs Marquez IV could do in Texas is $5-6 million. And I don't know that there's a significant enough difference in potential PPV interest to make up for that anymore.
0 recs | 12 comments
In the end it’s all about star power, power of the star.
tacklerford - January 13, 2012
"My favorite thing about Richard Schaefer is the way he always repeats things like he's Jimmy Two Times"
I think he’s just trying to pronounce it right so he double talks
J Theory - January 13, 2012
i gotta go get the papers get the papers
Vicmatic1 - January 13, 2012
“Let’s just say that I have my sources that he wants to have Pacquiao fight Bradley. I have my sources.”
“We’re working diligently. I’m working diligently with the Money Team, and you know, we’ll see.”
“I think that what I would like to do is to get together with Team Peterson which is, hopefully, going to be acceptable to everybody. I want to deal with it in respectful manner. What has been said has been said and done. I just want to get this fight done. That’s my hope and that’s my wish. Let’s get it done in a respectful manner. That’s my hope is that we can sit down with Team Peterson and get this done in a respectful manner.”
Scott Christ - January 13, 2012
yeah that isn't it then
J Theory - January 13, 2012
You could build a Bradley-Pacquiao fight by putting him in with Marquez first. If Bob Arum throws Bradley at Pacquiao now he’ll be squandering his new talent big-time, imo.
theninthlayer - January 13, 2012
That’s my feeling, too. If anyone can build Tim Bradley into something approaching an attraction, it’s Top Rank.
Scott Christ - January 13, 2012
Why, in all of these combinations, Cotto vs. Marquez is never considered?
Apprentice - January 13, 2012
Weight maybe?
Apprentice - January 13, 2012
Weight. Marquez comes up hard to fight at 144. Cotto has been at 154. Meeting in the middle would be a chore.
Scott Christ - January 13, 2012
I mean, I know 147 sounds good, but I’m guessing Cotto only fights at 47 for Floyd or Manny.
Scott Christ - January 13, 2012
for my money the fights i’d like to see (assuming manny/mayweather isnt going to happen now till at least the end of mayweathers apparent painful prison sentance) is manny v cotto, marquez v bradley, peterson v khan and chavez v martinez goddammit who’s with me??!!
sparky_mufc - January 15, 2012
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