AP source: Pacquiao, Mayweather close to deal

NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have signed off on the major issues in the negotiation for a megafight on March 13, and contracts could be signed in the next few days, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum met with Pacquiao in his native Philippines on Friday and the charismatic champion agreed to terms with only minor changes, said the person, who requested anonymity because the sides agreed not to speak publicly during negotiations.

Arum planned to return to the United States on Sunday and present the amended terms to Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, the person said. Schaefer is negotiating on behalf of Mayweather and his promotional company.

An announcement could come Tuesday, which would coincide with Arum’s 78th birthday.

No site has been determined, but Top Rank plans to send a survey team to Dallas next week to examine the new, $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium, the person said. Team owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that the Cowboys "are still desirous of looking at what we can do."

The other possibilities are the New Orleans Superdome and venues in Las Vegas, including the MGM Grand and a temporary outdoor stadium on the Strip.

The fight would be at 147 pounds for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title, which he won in November with an impressive 12th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

Michael Koncz, who is advising Pacquiao, said Friday that the contracts need "fine tuning" but declined to elaborate. Koncz added that Pacquiao is "very comfortable" with March 13, even though it is only four months after his last fight.

"Manny has some additional requirements, requests, which Arum didn’t think was a problem," Koncz said. "The requests of Manny were so realistic that Arum doesn’t feel it’s a problem and it’s pretty much a done deal."

The bout could be the richest ever, assuming projections are accurate. Pacquiao’s fight against Cotto sold 1.25 million pay-per-views, while Mayweather’s comeback victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September did 1.05 million.

The richest fight ever was in May 2007, when Mayweather’s split-decision win over Oscar De La Hoya generated 2.4 million buys for $120 million in pay-per-view revenue.

The potential Pacquiao-Mayweather fight certainly would generate widespread international appeal, pitting the flamboyant Mayweather against the man who most believe replaced him on the mythical mantle as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Pacquiao has won an unprecedented seven titles in seven weight divisions, although his popularity has grown far beyond the sport. He was featured on the cover of the Asian version of Time magazine, is wrapping up filming of an action movie called "Wapakman," and submitted his candidacy for the 2010 elections on Tuesday.

"The difference between Floyd and others I have fought is that Floyd makes a lot of trash talk that should not be imitated by young people," Pacquiao told GMA television, when asked about the potential matchup.

Pacquiao’s political ambitions are the reason the fight was moved up to mid-March. He plans to start campaigning in April in his second attempt at a congressional seat.

"March 13 is OK," Pacquiao told GMA.

"Nobody knows his body better than Manny," Koncz said. "If Manny feels that that’s plenty of time to rest and recover, then you know, he has to do what he feels is right."

Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach would again hold the start of camp in the Philippines, even though Pacquiao is such a national hero that hundreds of people trail him on morning runs and crowd around gym windows to watch him spar. Roach expressed concern about the distraction before Pacquiao demolished Cotto in the most impressive display of his career.

The Filipino champion has said he would spend about 12 weeks in camp, rather than the eight weeks he normally takes to prepare for a fight. That would mean Pacquiao would begin working out in about three weeks.

Williams ready for showdown with Martinez in AC

NEW YORK — Paul Williams has endured five months of frustration, full of postponements and cancelations that eventually cost him a crack at middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik.

At least for now.

The two may end up fighting next year, but Williams isn’t waiting around. One of the most avoided boxers in the sport finally returns to the ring on Saturday night against junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Martinez at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

"If you say you are the best, you fight the best. Somebody is going to win and somebody is going to lose," said Williams, the two-time welterweight champion.

Williams weighed 157 pounds Friday, while Martinez was 159 for the middleweight fight.

The 28-year-old Williams (37-1, 27 KOs) was supposed to challenge Pavlik for his titles in October, but the fight was delayed until December because of a lingering staph infection on the knuckle of the champion’s right hand. After a news conference to announce the new date, Pavlik backed out when he realized he wouldn’t be ready in time.

Not that excuses, even those that are justified, can make up for Williams’ lost time.

"Guys always say they want to fight me and they are all talking, then it dies down," he said. "Then I sign to fight someone, they start talking again: ‘We want to fight, we want to fight.’ Well, you had your opportunity to fight, so why didn’t you?"

Williams promoter Dan Goossen and manager Al Haymon had to hustle to find a suitable replacement for Pavlik and keep their lucrative HBO television date. Junior middleweight champ Sergei Dzindziruk and welterweights Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosley were considered before Martinez eventually jumped at the opportunity.

He risked taking the fight on short notice for the widespread exposure.

"I want to thank Sergio Martinez because he is the only one that stepped up to fight Paul Williams at any weight from 147 to 160," said Williams’ trainer George Peterson. "But he’s in a hell of a predicament on Saturday night."

The 34-year-old Martinez (44-1, 24 KOs) is not well known in the United States, unless you saw him pound Alex Bunema to claim an interim belt and then fight to a controversial majority draw against Kermit Cintron. Yet he’s still a dangerous opponent for Williams, with the ability to pick people apart and enough power to end fights in a flash.

"The past two months have been the best training I have had in my whole career, and I believe I will knock Paul Williams out," said Martinez, who is originally from Argentina and now lives in Spain. "People are going to see that I am the real deal."

They have had one common opponent in Antonio Margarito, and if the six-degrees theory holds in boxing, it should make Williams the favorite.

The lanky southpaw from Augusta, Ga., won a narrow unanimous decision in July 2007 before a pro-Margarito crowd at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., while Margarito handed Martinez his only loss with a seventh-round stoppage about a decade ago.

"Paul is an A-class fighter, and from what I’ve seen of Sergio, he’s been fighting D and E fighters," Peterson said. "He did fight one A-class fighter and that was Margarito, and Margarito stopped him, and Paul Williams put the beat-down on Margarito."

Williams’ only loss came against Carlos Quintana, one he avenged with a first-round knockout in a rematch. And wouldn’t you know it? Quintana has been helping Williams prepare for a fellow left-hander during training.

"I know Martinez is saying what Quintana did and all that. I allowed Quintana to do all that because I wasn’t fighting," Williams said. "They are saying he is faster, but that doesn’t mean anything to me because once you get in there, everything changes once the punches start flying.

"You’re taking heat and I’m taking heat — I live for that."

-- Dave Skretta

Khan aiming for convincing win over Salita

NEWCASTLE, England — Amir Khan aims for a convincing win over Dmitriy Salita in his first defense of the WBA light-welterweight title Saturday in hopes of securing a shot at success in the United States.

The 22-year-old Briton takes on the bigger American fighter in Newcastle. He’s bolstered by several months’ training in Los Angeles with Freddie Roach, who also trains seven-weight champion Manny Pacquiao.

"There’s no doubt Amir is the best fighter I’ve fought," said the Ukrainian-born Salita. "I went into training camp knowing it would be foolish of me not to think that way. I’ve prepared myself well."

Roach took over Khan after he was knocked out in 54 seconds by Breidis Prescott in September 2008. The 2004 Olympic lightweight silver medal winner beat Oisin Fagan and Marco Antonio Barrera to set up a title bout in July with Andreas Kotelnik, which he won on a unanimous points decision.

Khan said Saturday’s fight against an opponent unbeaten in 31 fights represents another step up, one he expects to handle easily.

"When I beat this guy — an American opponent — it’s going to spring me up in America," Khan said. "More people will get to know me in America and we’ll take it from there."

But Khan has been on the floor four times in four fights, suggesting things may not go entirely his way.

He will have to rely on his speed and technique to avoid the more powerful American.

"He’ll bring out the best in me," Khan said. "I don’t get many fighters who are as skillful as me, but I think Salita is. He’s very skillful.

"He’s got a style which is probably going to make me look good. He’s tough and doesn’t give up."

Roach his so confident of success, he is already talking up Khan as similar to Pacquiao, with whom Khan has been sparring.

"He and Manny Pacquiao are very similar," Roach said. "They both have good power and speed. When you have both of those, it is devastating at times. I see Amir following Manny’s path."

Khan weighed in at 139.5 pounds Friday, while the 27-year-old Salita had to shed his shorts to make the 140-pound limit.

An Orthodox Jew, Salita follows dietary laws. He will not fight until after sundown on a Saturday and will be holed up in his hotel room in preparation for the bout.

"I’ve watched quite a few of Amir’s fights, even some of his Olympic fights and I’ve seen the changes and progression he’s made, including those changes under Freddie," Salita said. "But we have a game plan and on Saturday I’m going to take the title."

Adamek to return to ring in Feb against Estrada

NEWARK, N.J. — Cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek will return to the ring against Jason Estrada in a heavyweight fight on Feb. 6 at the Prudential Center.

The popular polish fighter moved up in weight to knock out Andrew Golota on Oct. 24 in Lodz, Poland, and there was talk that he would fight Bernard Hopkins or challenge one of the heavyweight titleholders next.

Instead, Adamek (37-1, 27 KOs) will fight Estrada, who represented the United States at the 2004 Olympics but is just 16-2 with four KOs as a professional.

Adamek has a huge following among the Polish community in New Jersey. Before fighting Golota, fans packed the Prudential Center for wins over Bobby Gunn, Johnathon Banks and Steve Cunningham — the man Adamek defeated to win the IBF cruiserweight belt.