Manny Pacquiao can choose steak or lobster from July 19

If he wanted to be petty, and I don’t mean race car driver Richard Petty, Manny Pacquiao would wait until Saturday, July 18, and then swoop down on Las Vegas.

Bob Arum could set up a midmorning press conference, grabbing all the media covering the evening’s Juan Manuel Marquez-Floyd Mayweather Jr. PPV card, and proceed to outline his plans and his opponent for an Oct. 17 bout.

But I don’t think Pacman is small-minded like that and I don’t think he would want to divert attention away from Pretty Boy and the Mexican ringmaster.

Theirs is a viable fight despite the fact that Mayweather is fighting a midget in terms of comparative reach. What can I say, the marvelous Mayweather likes to beat up on tiny lightweights. He doesn’t believe in the old schoolyard “pick on someone your own size” bromide.

But, putting aside that tit for tat move which would only be a body blow to Golden Boy Promotions, I think Megamanny is right in waiting until AFTER the Marquez-Mayweather result is in to name his autumn opponent.

So many different things could happen on July 18, not all of them good but some of them great, to affect who Manny battles next.
A resounding victory by Mayweather sets the stage for the mega bout between the mouthy Michigander and the humble Pinoy Idol.

But then Pacquiao and his team must make a boxing calculation. Is it smart to go into a tough fight against Money May coming off less than six minutes of combat against Ricky Flatton?

Or would it be wise to find a less bothersome foe in October and let the promotional pot simmer until the first quarter of 2010 for The Big One?

Of course, the argument could be made rightfully that Pacman may never be hotter than he is now in the wake of the Hatton wipeout.

A lackluster or less dazzling outing against some well-chosen David Diaz type might take the bloom off the rose a bit.

And what if Mayweather slips past Juan Ma and/or there is some officiating or scoring hullabaloo? I know, those sort of things never transpire, not in Vegas, baby.

If Marquez can credibly claim a victory but doesn’t get it, the tables are turned upside down.

Not to mention—but I have to—what a shocking, not controversial Marquez upset would do the Pacman’s calculations.

Viewing the situation today, at the end of May when the May weather is delightful, I see Manny as a hungry diner who may be forced to choose between the finest steak or exquisite lobster.

Should he choose the melt in your mouth meat or go for the tempting crustacean?

It looks like a no can lose menu for the Pound for Pound Emperor of all he surveys.

One factor that I feel that can be junked and completely discounted is making Li’l Floyd wait so that maybe his wheels will stop turning so fast.

The slight age difference between the hand and foot speed merchant and the pulverizing southpaw is not that meaningful because PBF has never abused his body.

He’s not the old boy down at the pub or gorging himself on fatty foods like Ricky Hatton has been to his personal detriment.
Pacquiao is the ruler supremo.

If he wants to be, he can be as haughty as Marie Antoinette was when the populace of Paris was starving.

“Let them eat cake!” Marie is said to have cavalierly said.

I guess you Francophiles would want me to point out there that this Gallic slice of history is apropos considering that Juan Ma-Pretty Boy occurs only four days after Bastille Day.

That is, of course, the day the Parisian masses broke free from jail and ended Marie’s Royal Party.

From what I hear, Marie got so emotionally at that point she lost her head when, all about her other haughty and arragont types, were losing theirs. Chop, chop, bring on the liberty, egality and fraternity, mon freres.

When it comes to Marquez-Mayweather, Pacquiao’s ideal outcome will be for an excellent fight which makes the decision as to who his next super bout foe is for him.

Then he can determine whether to take an October tune-up or dispense with same.

Unless either Mayweather or Marquez is demolished a la Hapless Hatton—and how likely is that to occur?—Pacquiao can have his cake and eat it.

Which reminds me, note to self, do not describe a Mayweather fight as a "cakewalk" for Packy, not yet anyway.

Whatever the bout outcome July 18, Manny remains the boss with the hot sauce and neither Marquez nor Mayweather can really, in the immortal words of ex-heavyweight champ Larry Holmes, cook with cold grease.

No calamity will take place if the world has to wait until July 19 or a bit later to discover who Pacman will next assault.

Or should I say who he will next assault and pepper?

Bon appétit, Megamanny!

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m5d26-Manny-Pacquiao-can-choose-steak-or-lobster-from-July-19