Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr still possible in 2012

The short jail-term Floyd Mayweather Jr. is serving will not be an obstacle for a planned fight with Manny Pacquiao next year. Moy Lainez, Pacquiao's former chief handler, is confident the biggest fight in boxing history can still push through despite the 34-year-old Mayweather’s current legal problems. Lainez believes money will be the main issue that will finally make a dream bout between the Filipino ring superstar and his brash American rival possible in 2012. "I personally believe the fight will push through because of the huge amount of money involved," said the 68-year-old boxing veteran who was part of the original Team Pacquiao along with Lito Mondejar and the late Rod Nazario, Pacquiao’s former manager. Boxing experts, since the idea of pitting the world's top two pound-for-pound boxers two years ago, already projected that the Pacquiao-Mayweather match will be the biggest and richest fight ever in the history of the sport. Some even believe that the mega-buck bout is capable of breaching the $100 million mark owing on the large purses of the two fighters alone. A number of stumbling blocks had kept the fight from becoming a reality, the latest of which is the 90-day sentence handed out by a Las Vegas court to Mayweather last Wednesday stemming from a misdemeanor domestic violence charges. Lainez is not losing hope, though. "Both sides will lose millions if the fight will not push through," he said. "Even Bob Arum will lose a huge amount of money. I am confident that Manny and Mayweather will fight in 2012." Mayweather will start his jail term on January 6 and is expected to be released in early April. The jail time, according to Lainez, all the more forces Mayweather to seek a mouth-watering fight with the eight-time world champion. "Mayweather needs a large amount of money," he said noting that the former Olympian pleaded guilty to a reduced battery domestic violence charge and no contest to two harassment charges filed by his ex-girlfriend Joe Harris. "Who knows, there might be even an amicable settlement with his girlfriend (Joe Harris)? We never know. That's why I'm sure Mayweather needs money." Given a short time to train for his projected May 5 ring return, Lainez said he believes Mayweather may likely fight in June or in November. "The fight won't take place in May,” he said of the date Mayweather's camp had reserved at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. — JVP, GMA News