Mayweather's Games Will Stop Pacquiao Fight, Says Arum
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum believes that Filipino boxing hero and the acknowledged hero of Asia Manny Pacquiao is likely to go for his sixth official world title by fighting WBO champion Miguel Cotto in November.
Pacquiao was at New York ’s famed Madison Square Garden with wife Jinkee and renowned journalist and boxing commentator Larry Merchant to watch Cotto win a split decision in a close and bloody bout against Ghana ’s resilient Joshua Clottey before a hugely partisan Puerto Rican crowd on the eve of Puerto Rico ’s independence day celebration.
In an overseas telephone conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports, Standard Today and Viva Sports from New York, Arum said that Pacquiao would be inclined to fight Cotto because Floyd Mayweather Jr “is playing games” and demanding that he gets the revenue split at 60-40 in his favor while Arum and celebrated trainer Freddie Roach insist that Pacquiao is the big draw, not “Pretty Boy” Mayweather Jr.
Arum said the deep cut suffered by Cotto in the Clottey fight which at times threatened a stoppage was “no problem” although keeping the October 17 date as originally planned for a Pacquiao fight was impossible. Arum told us “forget October, we will do it in November.”
Arum conceded that the Cotto-Clottey fight was close but that Cotto, whom he handles, “pulled it off by winning the last two rounds.” Arum said he had Cotto ahead by a point at the end of the tenth round because of the flash knockdown in the dying seconds of round one which, up to that point, Clottey had dominated.
Both Pacquiao, Roach and some of Pacquiao’s close advisers including Michael Koncz have indicated a preference for Mayweather first before Cotto and Shane Mosley.
Minutes before receiving his third “Trainer of the Year” award from the Boxing Writers Association of America at the awards dinner in New York , Saturday morning Manila Time Roach he wants “two more big fights and then retire. With (Floyd) Mayweather Jr coming up and of course (Miguel) Cotto and (Shane) Mosley and we’ll fight the winner of that down the line” even as he spoke about he himself retiring in the Philippines .
Roach said he saw “no problem whatsoever” in fighting Cotto or Mosley but added “right now I think Mayweather is the better fight for Manny and that’s the fight I want.”
He said Mayweather “is not as strong as Cotto or Shane (Mosley). He is not a big puncher . He’s been off for a long time now. He struggled with (Ricky) Hatton and was behind after six rounds . We destroyed Hatton . He struggled with Oscar De La Hoya and Manny destroyed Oscar so who’s the better fighter?”
Roach said Pacquiao’s “work ethic is amazing and I’m real happy he walked through my door one day.”
Roach praised Pacquuao saying “it gets better every time and Manny Pacquiao really is the best student in the world and we have a good relationship so I am very honored be around a guy like him and a workhorse like Manny Pacquiao.”
At the awards dinner where the Filipino boxing hero and a hero of Asia received what amounted to the coveted “Oscar Award” of boxing as “Fighter of the Year” for 2008, Pacquiao received a standing ovation when we went on stage to receive the award from BWAA president Jack Hirsch who hinted that with Pacquiao’s spectacular 2nd round knockout of Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton last May 2 may put him in contention for a third award for 2009.
In his remarks delivered in near-flawless English and interrupted by resounding applause on occasions, Pacquiao said the “long existence only proves that there is no association more prestigious than the Boxing Writers Association of America. You have passed the test of time” in reference to its 84th annual awards night.
Pacquiao drew cheers and applause when he said “it is for this reason that I chose to travel half way across the globe to personally receive this award tonight. Choosing me as the fighter of the year in 2006 was the highest accolade in my boxing career. Giving it to me for the second time leaves me with no words to express the joy and how grateful I feel. Deep in my heart I know how the BWAA has supported me in my boxing career. The members have been kind anmd wonderful to me in their write-ups.”
Pacquiao went on “Who I am, not only in America but the whole world is something I owe to you my friends. And for that, I will be forever grateful. For honoring me with this prestigious award, I promise the Boxing Writers Association of America that the boxing fans will see a more exciting Manny Pacquiao, every round, every minute, every second I fight on the top of the ring…
I also hope that this award will serve as an example and an inspiration for the young fighters to believe in themselves and keep on dreaming big. Always remember, your dreams will always be inside you. No one can take it away.
Having this award now is really larger than life; having to follow the footprints of the legendary fighters. But I didn’t do it all by myself. I had the help and support of many people. I’d like to take this rare opportunity to thank all of them, especially to our God. Without God I am not here. For all the blessing he gave me, Thank you.
And to my wife and kids: Jinkee, Michael, Jimwell, Princess and Queen Elizabeth and to my family who supported me- advice, encouragement and comfort over the course of this endeavor having more than I can express.
Mr. Bob Arum, my promoter Bob, Thanks for believing in me.
To my trainer Freddie Roach, Congratulations coach for being the trainer of the year. You deserve it!
To the members of Team Pacquiao, it has been a wonderful year for all of us.
To the Filipino nation who continue to inspire me to do my best. To all the boxing fans, to my fellow nominees who are equally great and excellent in their own way. And to all the people and institutions that I forgot to mention who in one way or another contributed a lot to making everything possible for me. Thank you! This is for you!!!"
