Manny Pacquiao Floyd Mayweather Fight: Bob Arum Trying To Block A May 2 Fight; Why?

Floyd Mayweather previously proposed to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015. However, Bob Arum questioned Mayweather's sincerity in wanting to face Pacquiao since May 2 is very close to Cinco de Mayo.

Bob Arum said during an interview with The Telegraph that a fight on May 2 should not push through since it happens on the weekend of Cinco de Mayo, a major Mexican holiday, where bouts should be reserved for fighters of Mexican descent. According to Arum, May 2 should not be the date because it is disrespectful to the Mexican people.

Arum said in the Telegraph interview, "May 2, that Cinco de Mayo weekend, is a Mexican holiday. It is a big Mexican-American holiday. It's a fight date being talked about for Mayweather, Pacquiao, even [Miguel] Cotto, but they're not Mexicans or even Mexican-Americans."

He said, "The only Mexican who is a draw on that date is Canelo [Alvarez]." Arum continued, "I see Mayweather as poaching on a Mexican holiday and being disrespectful to the Mexican people," Arum said, holding back no punches. "Everybody agrees with that, except Mayweather. He is putting his ego before respect for people."

There is also a possibility that Canelo Alvarez will be facing middleweight champion Miguel Cotto on the same date on HBO.

In a report by Rappler.com, Mayweather responded to the criticisms about the May 2 date he set saying, "Canelo is a hell of a fighter. But even though he wants to face Cotto on May 2nd, I beat both, but Canelo is a hell of a boxer. Cotto is a hell of a boxer."

He continued, "They're both excellent boxers. Both are good punchers, they both are strong guys. But they said that's a Mexican holiday but the last time I checked, Cotto is Puerto Rican. And I put it like this, since they feel like May 2nd is a Mexican holiday, I say you know what, 'I respect you guys. Fight in Mexico.'"

Boxing News 24 reported that Arum's statement about disrespecting Mexicans might be a ploy for him to block the mega-bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao, considering how Pacquiao faced Ricky Hatton on May 2, 2009 and Shane Mosley on May 7, 2011, both dates falling on a Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Most likely, Arum does not prefer being secondary in the negotiations of the big fight. His ego may not allow Mayweather to take control of negotiations and promotions of a fight involving his top boxer Pacquiao.