It is normal for Pacquiao to be greeted for an elaborate press gathering. The sensation from the Philippines is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the business. And with no fight on the horizon with Floyd Mayweather Jr, there is no argument as to who is the best.

Pacquiao also draws a large contingent of fans from his island and for his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, there is no question he is the top promotional fighter when it comes to boxing and the pay-per-view industry. Perhaps that is why Hershman and Arum have aligned their business and why Showtime, a parent company of CBS, is once again a player in the boxing PPV industry.

“We are thrilled to be working with Showtime and with Manny Pacquiao and they are not new to boxing and pay-per-view,” said Arum who also has his other draw, world champion Miguel Cotto also fighting on Showtime pay-per-view against Ricardo Mayorga on March 12^th from Vegas for Cotto’s light middleweight title.

No, Showtime is not new to the boxing PPV industry and they had a good marriage with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Their last PPV broadcast was the second fight with Diego Corrales against Jose Luis Castillo in 2005. Since that time HBO and Arum had a good working relationship, but like revolutions around the world boxing also sees changes.

Hershman and Top Rank executives got together a few months ago when Arum saw a need for change. His chief rival Golden Boy Promotions, under former champion Oscar De La Hoya and CEO Richard Schaffer were “in bed” with HBO.  Booking dates and trying to force Arum out of the MGM Arena, more so Schaffer was undermining Arum as the representative for Floyd Mayweather Jr, in negotiations to get the fight going between Pacquiao and Mayweather.

That stalemate, the insistence from Mayweather that Pacquiao would agree to Olympic drug and blood testing procedures, may have been the end of the line for HBO and Arum opening the door once again for Showtime. Hershman would not go that far on Monday as to say how his aligning with Arum transpired.

“We are not new at this,” he commented, “we are optimistic and will be innovative.” That word innovation is the key because Showtime has the capability to give the struggling sport of boxing exposure on the CBS Television Network and with radio stations the company owns in key markets around the country.

Something HBO could not do was going beyond their network. Pacquiao and Mosley, even Cotto and other Top Rank fighter of Latino descent can be seen on the CBS Early Morning Show, perhaps “60 Minutes” or on “Late Night” with David Letterman.

Arum was gleaming. The promoter who once was at war with rival Don King, a co-promoter for Cotto-Mayorga , knows what is best for boxing. And with Showtime and CBS, he may have had the answer to getting boxing back on national television.

Pacquiao will be fighting under the Showtime PPPV banner for the first time whose fights over the past two years have amounted to nearly 4 million pay-per-view buys and record box office receipts. “These are exciting times and this is the first time I am encountering an opponent that is not trash talking,” said Pacquiao about his opponent Mosley.

Pacquiao, (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) the record setting eight-division champion and Congressman from the Philippines will train there for a few weeks and then take his camp to Los Angeles with trainer Freddie Roach. The veteran Mosley, (46-6-1, 39 KO’s), a three-division champion knows he has his work cut out for him in efforts to stop Pacquiao.

It may not be a fight the boxing world is looking for as questions still arise as to when, or if Pacquiao and Mayweather will ever meet. Still Pacquiao draws interest no matter who he gets in the ring with, and he would not rule out an inevitable meeting with Mayweather.

“It can still happen,” said Pacquiao about a meeting with Mayweather that could determine who is the best. For now, he and Mosley are elated about fighting on Showtime. The “Fight Camp 360; Pacquiao vs. Mosley” four –part documentary series that follows both fighters before the big fight will premiere before CBS airs  coverage of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship Final Four on Saturday April 2^nd.

That means more hype for the PPV date, more importantly needed and great exposure for the sport of boxing. CBS is the top rated television network, and the fight series airs before one of the largest sport events on the calendar.

Arum and Hershman got this one right. They did it for boxing and the loyal fans desperate for some needed exposure. Pacquiao is known world-wide and may have two more fights in his arsenal while Cotto will go long as long as he wants to.

HBO will continue to do what they do. Golden Boy will supply them some of the exciting junior welterweights though very few are marketable commodities for pay-per-view telecasts. HBO is very silent but the prevailing view is they are taking a hit.

The comment from Hershman about how HBO is taking all of this: “You have to ask them,” he said with confidence.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

A source for Bob Arum of Top Rank, promoter of Pacquiao said last week that there is no way the fight will take place. He claimed, Arum, will no loner deal with Mayweather, or Richard Schaefer of Golden BOY Promotions who Mayweather hired to handle with promotion of the fight.

The sticking point is how testing procedures would be handled for both fighters. Arum has insisted that Pacquiao, the welterweight champion, and record six- division title holder will not go along with Mayweather and Schaefer demanding that their be random drug testing for both fighters before the fight.

And last week Pacquiao filed a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Las Vegas against Mayweather and his camp, and also against Schaefer and Golden Boy claiming his reputation was damaged.  The allegations that Pacquiao is backing off form random testing in fear of being exposed for using body enhancement drugs.

Now a mediator has intervened, summoned by Arum and agreed to be used by Schaefer and Mayweather.  A former Federal judge, who by the way Arum trusts, once resolved a dispute that Pacquiao had when he was with Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya.

But it is more than deciding how this testing would be done, also under the supervision of the Nevada State Athletic Commission which would hold jurisdiction at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.  The defamation lawsuit has made this a more nasty war out of the ring, and to say the least, even the Supreme Court would have a difficult time getting the fighters to come to an agreement.

So here we have it. The New Year is a few days old, boxing has undoubtedly the highest profile fight of all-time waiting to happen, and we are all in limbo.  First they had to agree on a date and that was resolved. Then there was the back-and-forth about a venue. From New York, to Dallas, finally the MGM because the source at Top Rank said that is where Schaefer had already made the deal.

There is also the known fact about the bitterness Mayweather and Arum have for each other. It goes back to the days when Arum promoted Mayweather, and now Schaefer gets in the mix, who works for De La Hoya, another former fighter that made plenty of money with Arum.

As soon as they finished trading jabs, Pacquiao the clear winner in the ring late Saturday night, Mayweather started to make some noise. “Pacquiao does not want to fight me or he would have said so himself,” said Mayweather. His people want ot get the fight done, so does Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach who called for the undefeated Mayweather immediately.

It has been explained to yours truly, from a source at Top Rank, the promoters of Paccquiao that the problem getting this fight together is dealing with Mayweather.  Bob Arum, promoter of Top Rank has a malicious attitude towards Mayweather his former fighter. So the negotiations that reportedly have started are going nowhere.

Mayweather wants more of the money form the purse to pay-per-view revenue. This has a potential to be the mega fight of this new boxing era, and could easily top the revenue of previous PPV fights that Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya have accomplished. It is a fight that will keep boxing in the picture because these are two fighters now that generate that type of interest.

Not since we have seen Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Rey Leonard, the prime fighters of the 1980’s have we seen a fighter like Pacquiao. The Philippine sensation made boxing history Saturday night becoming the first seven-time division champion in the sport and easily dominated Miguel Cotto.

Cotto is now a second thought. What once was talked about, a trilogy between Cotto and Pacquiao, now can become a three- time deal with Pacquiao and Mayweather. Cotto can continue to fight and work his way back into the picture. Possibly a return bout with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley at Madison Square Garden in June, the place where Cotto reigns and always fights on the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City.

But the fight boxing fans and the sport needs is Pacquiao against Mayweather. Arum said the past few days that it will have to happen.  How much each fighter will get has to be determined and where it will take place is another factor before the fighters sign on the dotted line.

The original idea was to stage Cotto again against Pacquiao at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Perhaps Cotto or Pacquiao opposing Mayweather there, however, Arum now has a change of thought because of a tax structure in the state of New York that would hinder the earnings of the fighters, promoters and pay-per-view outfit, most likely HBO Pay-Per-View.

Las Vegas is the most probable option. Promoters get rooms on the house, and the Nevada tax structure is so much easier to work with.  Then there is the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium being discussed as a possible venue for the fight. Unless the New York politicians give in, and their greed and bickering won’t allow it, Pacquiao and Mayweather is not coming to Yankee Stadium.

So where do we stand? Boxing fans want an answer soon because the sport is in need of this mega fight. They are looking at a date in May to get this done.  Reports are Dallas is the lead contender to host the fight. And the Cowboys Stadium has the largest video board for a sports venue that will allow those with the cheaper tickets to attend and see the fight from the upper rafters.

Arum, even with all his past animosity with Mayweather, knows also that the sport needs to stage this fight and is willing to put differences aside.  And though Pacquiao has not commented about an impending meeting with Mayweather, he too knows the significance of this potential fight to be.

After a vacation with family, Pacquiao with a clear mind and rest should be more than ready to make a deal.  Mayweather also needs to meet him half way and also knows differences with Arum will be put aside to get this fight done. It is for the betterment of the sport to make sure that Pacquiao and Mayweather touch gloves soon.

If not, the boxing world puts itself in the same situation. Less interest and fights of minimal value that carry no weight, or do nothing to bring the sport back to respectability. Cotto and Pacquiao gave us some hope that sparked some mainstream media interest again for the sport. Now we need Mayweather and Pacquiao to continue the process.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

Except this was a more subtle and different Mayweather from when we last saw him. After knocking out Ricky Hatton in the 10^th round in December of 2007 Mayweather stunned the boxing world and announced his retirement last June. He would surface as a dancing star, do some commercials and went in another ring, opposing “Big Show” at the WWE annual WrestleMania event last April.

But that was then and this is now. Boxing has always needed a superstar with charisma and Mayweather knows that. “Fans have been missing me from the sport,” said Mayweather in a more quiet approach. “Floyd Mayweather and boxing go together,”

The return of Mayweather and him opposing Marquez is billed as a fight of epic proportions. Because Mayweather, along with the recently retired Oscar De La Hoya, a co-promoter of the fight, have been two of the highest paid fighters in the industry the past six years.

That said, it is now official as Mayweather (39-0, 25KO’s) returns and opposes another great champion, Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KO’s) the five-time world champion in three weight classes from Mexico City, Mexico. The 12-round fight will be televised on HBO pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday July 18^th.

They will fight at welterweight, a division that Mayweather is known for handling the best, including wins over Hatton and De La Hoya.   And there is a question as to who will have the advantage. Mayweather may be an inch or so taller but Marquez has a bigger fist.

All of that won’t matter come fight time. Both fighters have already secured Hall of Fame status in the sport. They are also marketable. Mayweather, 32-years of age has set boxing pay-per-view records and after beating Hatton was officially known as the best fighter pound-for-pound.

The 25-year old Marquez won 29 of his first 30 pro fights. He is in the category as one of those great Mexican fighters with Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. His second defense of the WBA featherweight title, in 2004 against Manny Pacquiao, may have been his most memorable as he survived three first-round knockdowns and got a draw, a fight that could have gone his way.

But as Marquez says, “This fight is very important for my country and my life.”  The fact he will be fighting for the first time, in all probability as a welterweight, has him preparing to build more muscle mass and gaining for more respect. A probable future opponent could be WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto or Pacquiao again in the same weight class.

“It’s a division I am not accustomed to fighting,” said Marquez. If he stays at welterweight all depends on the outcome against Mayweather. To that, he said, “I always prepare myself mentally and physically”

Mayweather has been training for the past few months in a gym out in Las Vegas. So his return to the ring was inevitable and it was just a matter of time as to when. The opponent was also an easy pick. He wanted Marquez and the Mexican champion was honored to get the call.

“Marquez is a warrior and he represents his country well,” said Mayweather who many say will start to make noise again if indeed he prevails in this return fight.  He picked me because I deserved it,” said Marquez about being the return opponent for Mayweather.

And Marquez says about Mayweather, “He’s a great fighter, a great champion. Once in a while his ego comes out.”  Except that ego was not evident Tuesday afternoon, even when the two fighters posed for photos atop the observation deck of the Empire State Building and with Mayweather also the co-promoter with Mayweather Promotions.

“I’m expecting the best from Floyd Mayweather,” added Marquez. “Even in my mind he never retired.”  The boxing public will agree because over the past year Mayweather stayed in the spotlight and it was a matter of time for the return date to happen.

This was the second stop of a three city tour to announce the fight. Los Angeles on Monday, New York City and then off to London Wednesday They did a five-city tour last year when Pacquiao and De La Hoya were set to clash last December.

That fight had the boxing world in a buzz as Mayweather was out of the picture. Pacquiao was declared the best when he put De La Hoya into retirement. Now Mayweather is back and the question is, can he get by Marquez for a possible encounter with Pacquiao?

Marquez certainly will answer some of those questions soon for himself, the boxing public and all of his fans in Mexico.

e-mail Rich Mancuso at Ring786@aol.com

Hatton went down three times in the two- round fight before it was stopped. This writer picked Pacquiao to win via TKO in eight rounds, and so many of the experts picking the fight actually gave Hatton a legitimate chance to dethrone Pacquaio as the best. The end result was 73 punches thrown by Pacquaio and 18 by Hatton in the short lived fight.

So at 140, Pacquiao, fighting in a different fight division for the fourth straight time, is still the dominant fighter and most sought after, very reminiscent of De La Hoya who won titles in five different weight classes.

Pacquiao was much stronger and faster and now awaits his next test. The discussion as to who may be next centers on a big money fight with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto or with Floyd Mayweather Jr.  Mayweather, earlier in the day made it official that he was returning to the ring after being away the last year and a half.

Mayweather, who handed Hatton his only loss, is set to return on July 18^th against Juan Manuel Marquez the same fighter who Pacquiao split two fights with as a junior lightweight

The statement was made once again and this time the boxing world should take notice. Whether it, be Cotto or Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao means business.  So popular is Pacquiao in his native land of the Phillipines, he is now the most exciting and popular fighter in the business.

And on a Super Saturday day of sports that included the Kentucky Derby and another Boston Celtics game 7 playoff win, how appropriate that Pacquiao did what he did.