ARUM ARRIVING TO GIVE PACQUIAO MORAL SUPPORT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 10 May 2007
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is scheduled to arrive Thursday morning in Manila to give Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao "moral support" in his bid for the lone congressional seat in South Cotabato.
Arum is arriving on the same Philippine Airlines flight from Las Vegas as emerging Filipino ring sensations Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ "Bazooka" Banal and their manager Michael Aldeguer and his wife Cristine.
Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today learned that Arum was taking a connecting flight to General Santos City to be at the side of Pacquiao who is regarded as the most exciting fighter in Top Rank's stable if not in the world today. Pacquiao is facing a tough battle against intelligent, articulate and charming incumbent Darlene Antonino Custodio who comes from a well-connected political family and is on her last term.
Earlier reports in the American media last month claimed Arum would fly to the Philippines to campaign for Pacquiao after the fight against undefeated but unknown Mexican Jorge Solis who was knocked out in the eighth round by Pacquiao. However, the Top Rank promoter obviously realized that it was illegal for foreigners to campaign in Philippine elections and postponed his arrival for today which is a mere four days before the polls and made it clear he was arriving to give Pacquiao moral support.
Commission on Elections chairman Ben Abalos cautioned Arum "not to campaign for Pacquiao" because it was "illegal and he could be deported" for violation of Philippine election laws that prevent foreigners from interfering in the elections. Abalos told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today "we welcome Mr. Arum because after all Pacquiao is his fighter" and as long as he does not participate in the campaign there would be no problem. Abalos said Arum could even sit on stage in campaign rallies "to observe" but cannot speak or campaign in any way.
Abalos said there was nothing wrong or illegal in Arum giving his prized fighter moral support. He also cautioned the Top Rank promoter about what he tells the media during interviews because he may be guilty of electioneering.
Arum is involved in a legal tussle with Oscar De La Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions over which entity has the right to promote Pacquiao?s fights. The legal battle came about after Pacquiao signed a seven-fight contract with Golden Boy in mid-September last year and some two months later inked a four-year deal with Top Rank.
Bautista and Banal are both under contract with Golden Boy Promotions and the owner of the ALA Gym, respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Arum being on the same flight was "a nice coincidence" but clearly didn?t mean anything. Aldeguer himself decided to stay behind in Los Angeles because of his mother who is over 90 years of age, was ill.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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