Who?s up In the Pacquiao-Arum tussle?
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 22 Mar 2018
THEY have not communicated clearly, but veteran promoter Bob Arum had continued to assure there was no rift whatsoever between him and world boxing superhero Manny Pacquiao.
For starters, Arum, in setting up Pacquiao?s next fight, promised something ?nice and unique for Manny,? in a Las Vegas card headlined by the Jeff Horn-Terence Crawford WBO welterweight championship.
Arum paired Pacquiao against the busted Mike Alvarado, a former world champ, in the undercard of the Horn-Crawford fight.
No way, Pacquiao cried. He blasted Arum?s sweet package as a big insult.
**
Arum made no direct reply, and tried to make it appear there was nothing wrong.
However, the feud started to simmer in the open after Pacquiao stood up and announced he would be promoting himself in an event scheduled in Kuala Lumpur on June 24. Pacquiao picked WBA welterweight champion Lucas Mathysse for a foe.
Stunned, Arum tried to play it cool, saying he would wait for Pacquiao?s Malaysian backers to show the money.
At the same time, Arum, tried to make it clear Pacquiao was still under contract with his Top Rank outfit.
**
When it became clear Pacquiao would be in partnership with Oscar De La Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions for the KL event, Arum dug in and insisted to exercise alleged promotional rights. He said he would set up television coverage, complete with ESPN viewership and marketing.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao announced that the launch of the Mathysse fight, originally scheduled in KL for March 22, would be moved to Manila on April 4.
There also rose insinuations Pacquiao could?ve been momentarily stalled.
Was there a stand-off?
**
Arum has metamorphosed from being a promoter to a fight saboteur, declared Aquiles Zonio, Pacquiao?s chief communication officer.
Explained Zonio: ?Arum, for the third time, tried to sabotage the fight by calling Pacquiao?s Malaysian financial backers. For the record, Arum had sabotaged two previous negotiations for the holding of a Pacquiao fight outside of the United States. Arum called up Pacquiao?s financiers, threatening to file a lawsuit if Top Rank was not included in the promotion.?
The Pacquiao suppoters had predictably backed off.
There will be no turning back this time, declared Zonio, official Team Pacquiao mouthpiece.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Edges Benn in Thrilling Grudge Match for the Ages
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Due to Illness, H2O Syve Withdraws from Tonight’s Bout
Sun, 27 Apr 2025Filipino FM Ivan Travis Cu runner-up in Budapest First Saturday Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Home Teams Rule the Day
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Marlon Tapales Makes Weight for WBC International Title Fight in Gensan
Sat, 26 Apr 2025WELTERWEIGHT ERIC TUDOR TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEVIN JOHSON IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ FROM THUNDER STUDIOS AND LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank vs Benn: Like Father Like Son
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Misses Weight Ahead of Highly Anticipated Benn Clash
Sat, 26 Apr 2025Rafael Espinoza: “I’m Going To Steal The Show On May 4!”
Sat, 26 Apr 2025CO-PROMOTER OF TONIGHT'S ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ SAYS FIRST EVENT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
Sat, 26 Apr 2025