ARUM PULLING THE ?MARGARITO TRICK? ON PACQUIAO?
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 Oct 2015
Right after Terrence Crawford defeated the overmatched Dierry Jean of Montreal, Canada a few days ago at Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford was asked about a possible match up with the Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao. Of course, he wants the fight! Why would he say no to a fight that would bring the money he may not have seen before in his entire career? For all you know, Crawford may make more money than all the ones he made in his combined previous fights if he gets lucky and lands this fight.
But really, the fight is not his call. In fact it may not even be his idea.
The proposed match-up is the brainchild of Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions.
For Arum the match-up is ideal from the business standpoint. His business!
He can maximize his personal gain because both Pacquiao and Crawford are under contract with his company. Therefore negotiations will be far easier than say if one of the two fighters is signed up with another promotional company.
In paper there really is nothing wrong in putting together a Pacquiao-Crawford fight on April 9, 2015 for Pacquiao?s supposedly ?last fight?. (I doubt it?s his last but that?s another story)
What is totally insane is what Arum said about the match-up.
Arum wants the fight to happen at 140 lbs!
A super lightweight fight for Pacquiao? That is totally freaky! Pacquiao has not fought at that weight class since he fought and knocked out Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in May 2009, six long years ago.
In my opinion, (and I may be totally wrong), setting the fight at 140 is setting up Pacquiao the way Tony Margarito was set up by Arum in November of 2010 when Margarito who is a natural 165 pounder was baited to fight at a ?catch weight? of 150 lbs. Of course we all know by now what happened when the ?drained? Margarito faced Pacquiao in the ring. In spite of his ?size? he was blasted to kingdom come and all he had to show for after the fight was a near career ending orbital bone fracture.
I have a theory on why the possible Pacquiao-Crawford fight is being set at 140 lbs.
With Pacquiao, his premier cash cow soon to retire, Arum who is an astute businessman is protecting his turf. But apparently it seems at the expense of the health of Manny Pacquiao. But, I maybe wrong!
However, making the fight will be a win-win situation for Arum. Both Pacquiao and Crawford are signed up with his company. Thus, negotiations will be slightly easier than say if one of them is signed with another promoter like Amir Khan. Arum can maximize his personal gains, as there is no revenue sharing with another promoter.
In addition, if Crawford losses, not much is lost against a quality opponent like Pacquiao. Arum still can make tons of cash setting up Crawford with other 140 pounders at Crawford?s hometown at Omaha, Nebraska. On the other hand, if the reverse will be true, then Crawford becomes his new cash cow.
But setting up Pacquiao at a catch weigh of 140 lbs. is extremely risky and it will endanger the health of Pacquiao that Arum himself said Pacquiao needs to have if ever he wins a seat at the Philippine Senate.
But why then is the fight being set at 140 lbs.? It?s a business decision!
Arum in my humble opinion is banking on the fact that Team Pacquiao will summarily reject 140 lbs. but will accept a ?catch weight? slightly higher than 140 and within reasonable reach of Pacquiao and Crawford - like 143 lbs.
Then a fight which Arum really wants can be made.
Money will not be a huge issue as Pacquiao being the ?A side? gets the lion?s share and Crawford without doubt will accept whatever is reasonably offered to him.
I believe no matter what Arum says about Pacquiao or how he allegedly feels about him, I still think Arum?s primary goal, as a businessman is to cover all his bases.
A Pacquiao-Crawford fight is the fight that makes most sense for Arum?s company, but not necessarily for Pacquiao?s health. As many say, it?s a very high risks, low return fight.
However, that is the nature of the beast in boxing. Boxers know going in that they are in a deadly sport. They must decide for themselves when it comes to their health although admittedly in many cases they don?t know when to stop and they end up punch drunk and sick.
But the sad truth is it appears although many will dispute it, boxer?s health is merely a secondary concern of the promoters whose main job is to create fights. It is for the boxers and their team to determine when to stop or better still, it?s up to the boxing commissions to make that judgment call.
That is why Arum is making the proposals and it?s for Team Pacquiao to take or nix the matchup.
Personally, I hope Pacquiao rejects the Crawford fight. And, I am putting Team Pacquiao, particularly Mike Koncz on notice. I hope the Team will advise Pacquiao accordingly and find a less risky fight. Pacquiao has nothing to prove anymore. He has done it all and he deserves an easy fight for his farewell fight, or? his second to his last fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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