ARUM SAYS MARQUEZ VERY REASONABLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 Nov 2007
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer have been ?very reasonable? during their negotiations for a possible rematch with Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today during halftime of the US collegiate basketball game between UNLV and Louisville in Las Vegas, Arum said that he is prepared ?to lay out both guys (Marquez and WBC lightweight champion David Diaz) and whoever he (Pacquiao) wants to fight, he can fight.?
Arum made it clear that he wasn?t leaning in favor of Diaz who is a Top Rank fighter stating ?I don?t have a preference.? In fact Arum said ?they have been very reasonable. There is no question about it. If they hadn?t been reasonable there would be only one guy that Manny would be considering.?
Arum stressed ? Golden Boy and Marquez I must say have been very reasonable in the negotiations? during which, according to Schaefer, Marquez agreed to make concessions on his purse and even go up in weight to fight Pacquiao. This was confirmed by Marquez himself who carried the fight to Pacquiao and accused him of ?coming up with many excuses for not wanting to fight me.?
Marquez said all Pacquiao?s statements including his plan to challenge Diaz for the WBC lightweight title ?is an indication that he?s really scared and doesn?t want any part of me. He knows I?m the only man who can beat him. I?ll destroy him.?
When asked as a boxing person what fight he would want to see Arum responded, ?there are arguments for both guys. It is business with Marquez because of the draw. If he fights Diaz which is a lightweight championship then a whole host of new opponents appear. So its not an easy decision. Its not a clear-cut decision.?
After going through possible scenarios which included a Diaz-Marquez fight with the winner facing Pacquiao, Arum conceded ?obviously the bigger fight is Marquez.?
Meantime Pacquiao created consternation among his inner circle when he once again postponed his departure for the US to shoot a Nike commercial and have a thanksgiving dinner with Arum at which they would decide on his next opponent for a fight scheduled on March 15.
Pacquiao, after shooting his movie in Nueva Ecija unexpectedly decided to fly to Cebu with his two sons and their maids and later played in a basketball game. His wife Jinkee was conspicuously not with him as well as any of those who normally shadow him. His sons enjoyed swimming in the Waterfront Hotel pool and Pacquiao was set to take his kids to the mall and do some shopping. The Cebu trip also forced Pacquiao to skip his classes at Notre Dame in General Santos City.
Pacquiao?s close friend and confidant Rex ?Wakee? Salud said Pacquiao planned to leave for Los Angeles last night but business manager Eric Pineda said he would leave today and he had informed the Nike people ?not to worry? and that Pacquiao had some things to attend to.
Arum said he was informed that Pacquiao would arrive in the US on Saturday night. Arum said ?if worse comes to worse he?ll get on the phone with me if he?s not going to come over.? However, Arum said ?Manny has to come over to do the commercial for Nike, so I assume he will get together with me as soon as he gets here.?
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