Arum confident Pacquiao is Macao bound
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Apr 2013
New York -- Forget Vegas, it looks like the Manny Pacquiao caravan is traveling too Asia next. And Macao, China is the leading candidate to land the former pound for pound king?s next fight.
This is according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who is in town to spearhead this Saturday?s unification bout between Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Arum, who was just back from Macao this week, after having promoted a highly successful card in the archipelago has no doubts that Pacquiao will definitely fight there next.
?They want to fight in Macao, oh no they want to fight in Macao or Singapore. That is what they told me. There is nothing to talk about,? Arum replied when Philboxing asked if he has consulted with Pacquiao or his camp with regards to the plan.
?He prefers to fight in Macao or Singapore, so that is what we are going to do,? Arum told this writer.
The Hall of Fame promoter was impressed by the response they received last week in Macao and plans to return there for two more events this year. Arum is planning to stage a card there in the summer followed by the Pacquiao fight in the fall.
Arum also told Philboxing that an opponent for Pacquiao will be chosen this weekend in New York and that no one has the edge to land the multi-million fight with the Filipino star.
?We?ll see. We will figure that out this week,? said Arum.
Asked if those choices will be present in the Big Apple this week, he answered with an emphatic ?Yes.?
Pacquiao?s previous two opponents will be present in this week?s festivities in New York -- Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley will be gracing the annual BWAA awards ceremonies Thursday night and Bradley will also be doing commentary work for Top Rank this Saturday.
Arum also stated that he is not bothered by reports that Marquez?s is not inclined in fighting Pacquiao for the fifth time, after sending the Filipino star in the canvass last year.
?No, that is up to him. If he does not want to do that, I?ll just be doing Pacquiao-Bradley,? Arum told a member of the press yesterday.
Philboxing reached out to Bradley?s manager, Cameron Dunkin who loved the idea that two of his fighters are being considered to face Pacquiao, Bradley and Brandon Rios.
?Bradley is a great guy to do the fight, I like that fight for him a lot and we will see what happens with Rios. I am open to it, to either fight with Manny,? Dunkin told this writer.
While the opponent for Pacquiao remains a mystery, one thing seems to be certain these days. In that, the world?s most populous country is the likely venue for one of boxing?s biggest money maker.
?That is the market, one billion four hundred million people,? Arum declared.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and follow him on Twitter @Freemazon910.
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