BOXING

Boxing may once again be returning to Yankee Stadium nearly 30 years after Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton at the old venue in the Bronx.

On Friday, the Yankees announced that they've agreed to accommodate a family that scheduled a bar mitzvah for June 5, the date that promoter Bob Arum wants to stage Yuri Foreman's junior middleweight title defense against Miguel Cotto at the opulent ballpark.

Although it is not yet clear what accommodations were made, the bar mitzvah for Scott Ballan is still scheduled for the same day.

It is not the fight everyone wants to see, but it is the fight they will all get to watch as Manny Pacquiao will fight Joshua Clottey on March 13, the date originally set for the Mayweather Pacquiao fight.

According to ESPN.com, Clottey’s manager told the website that Top Rank’s Bob Arum and he (Clottey’s manager) spoke regarding the fights details, but would only confirm a seven-figure amount.

Since Mayweather and Pacquiao could not agree on details for their fight, Pacquiao has made alternative plans for the March 13 date.

The plot continues to thicken between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather as Pacquiao has now filed a lawsuit against Mayweather and others that he says defamed him by alleging he used performance-enhancing drugs.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Las Vegas, adds another piece of controversy to the already highly anticipated fight that has now been put in jeopardy over a testing issue that both sides can’t agree on. The suit asks for damages in excess of $75,000 and names Mayweather; his father, Floyd Sr.; and uncle Roger Mayweather as defendants.

The fight that all boxing fans around the world are waiting to see might not happen. The Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather fight has been called off according to Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.

We're going in a different direction," Arum told the Grand Rapids newspaper. "What I believe is that Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao.”

The much hyped and highly anticipated bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will likely take place on March 13 after Pacquiao agreed to a proposal from promoter Bob Arum on Friday.

During a two-hour meeting with Pacquiao in Manila, Arum presented him with what he considers the “best proposal he can bring", according to Michael Koncz, an adviser of the Philippine boxing idol.

The fight that everyone is hoping for just might happen sooner than expected as talks have begun to make Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather a reality.

Formal negotiations opened Monday between Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Bob Arum of Top Rank, who handles Pacquiao’s promotion, according to ESPN.com.

There is plenty of hype and buzz surrounding the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto bout that will take place on Saturday night in Las Vegas. While both fighters are used to the spotlight and fighting in huge fights, one fighter comes in to the bout with more celebrity than the other and that could ultimately be the deciding factor in the contest.

A lot of things have changed in the life of boxer Miguel Cotto since suffering what appeared to be a beating at the hands of Antonio Margarito, albeit the possibly “loaded” hands.

When Cotto suffered the beating from Margarito a lot people felt that he hasn’t been the same since. Although Cotto was able to win his last fight against Joshua Clottey, he suffered severe cuts above his left eye and had to hold on tight to secure a 12-round decision over him.

Every boxing fan and enthusiast would love to see the dream matchup take place, Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. But according to Pacquiao himself, you may never get to see that happen.

Pacquiao, who is training for his Nov. 14 matchup with Miguel Cotto has come out and said that Mayweather wants no part of him and will not agree to fight him.

"I don't think it's going to happen," Pacquiao said. "I'm sure he doesn't want to fight."