Pacquiao comeback fight: Is Arum in or out?

MANILA, Philippines — Nothing is cast in stone, if you listen to Top Rank chief Bob Arum and Golden Boy president Eric Gomez, who holds the promotional rights over Argentine champ Lucas Matthysse.

Arum, now 86, is not even thinking flying 22 hours from his base in Las Vegas to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, reportedly the venue of Manny Pacquiao’s next fight.

Not until he sees the money.

“If the money comes up then I’ve agreed to sign on,” Arum told ESPN.com, hinting that he won’t be out of the picture once Pacquiao’s fight against Matthysse on June 24 takes place.

“All they (Kuala Lumpur investors) have to do is say they got the $5 million of the $15 million. That makes it legit. [But] I’m not booking my flight [to Malaysia] yet,” Arum added.

The way Pacquiao announced his fight with Matthysse the other day, it sounded like it’s a deal purely between his MP Promotions and Golden Boy – with no mention of Top Rank.

Pacquiao’s camp did not react to a question on Arum’s involvement in the fight.

But again, don’t tell that to Arum.

“We would handle the logistics, we would handle the undercard and we would handle the television,” said Arum.

Gomez earlier issued a statement that followed Pacquiao’s announcement, and said that while they’re interested in the fight, “it’s very preliminary.”

Arum has cast his doubts on the fight even when Pacquiao seemed to have the blueprint in his hands, from the promotional details of the fight to his training schedule.

“I’m excited to fight and become world champion again,” he said.