ARUM BELIEVES PACQUIAO SHOULD NOT FIGHT IN THE OLYMPICS BECAUSE HE OWES IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED HIM TO THE SENATE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 May 2016
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who has exerted considerable influence over eight division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao who was recently proclaimed a senator of the Philippines with over 16 million votes has told The Standard ?Manny owes and obligation to the people who elected him to the Senate and needs to fulfill that obligation.?
Arum expressed the hope that Pacquiao won?t compete in the Olympics because ?he has a lot of work to do? in the Senate unlike his two-term stint in the House of Representatives where he was roundly criticized for his habitual non-attendance.
The astute promoter who helped shape the career of Pacquiao alongside Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said he hopes Manny will focus on his significant role as a senator.
Arum?s position was supported by one of Pacquiao?s business managers Eric Pineda who told us he was confident that Manny won?t compete in the Rio Olympics even as the ABAP announced that the deadline set for Pacquiao to make up his mind is May 27.
Manny made it clear his desire is to try and end the Philippines? quest for a coveted first Olympic gold medal and had nothing to do with money.
So far the Philippines has two boxers who have qualified for Rio, lightweight Charly Suarez and light flyweight Rogen Ladon.
The country is likely to send at least three boxers to the final Olympic Qualifying tournament in Azerbaijan on June 16 led by hard-hitting welterweight Eumir Marcial and bantamweight Mario Fernandez along with either Ian Clark Bautista or Roldan Boncales who put on an impressive performance despite losing in the last qualifying tournament in Qian?An, China.
The 23 year old flyweight from General Santos City impressed the coaching staff with his victory over Vietnamese national champion Tran Van Thao in his opening bout, using effective combinations to counter the spirited efforts of his Vietnamese opponent.
However, in the next round Boncales lost to the No. 4 seeded Kazakhstan fighter Oizahas Sattibayev in a close and exciting bout with two judges scoring in 29-28 for the Kazakh fighter and the third judge scoring it 30-27.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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