Boxing
Arum in Manila to discuss fight options with Pacquiao
InterAKTV/Lee Jimenez
Top Rank head Bob Arum is now in the country to discuss what the immediate future holds for Manny Pacquiao.
Arum checked in from Los Angeles at around 6 a.m. and was escorted to the plush Shangrila Makati hotel with wife Lovee.
“I’ll be meeting and having dinner with Manny tonight,” said Arum, who will present to the Filipino fighter the names of Timothy Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Miguel Cotto.
Admitting that he is already pressed for time because he expects Pacquiao to see action on November 10 and needs to come up with a solid promotional gimmick to hype the fight, Arum is positive that Pacquiao will make his decision before the promoter flies back to the United States this Sunday.
Pacquiao’s last fight was a controversial split verdict defeat to Bradley last June 9 and a few weeks ago, the 33-year-old GenSan puncher hinted that he might choose Bradley so he can get even with the 28-year-old Palm Springs native.
A fourth fight with Marquez also looks attractive because they share a storied rivalry stretching back to May 2004.
Not only that, Marquez said he was clearly robbed of a win in their third and showdown last year.
Another name that will likely float during the discussion will be that of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather was released from prison last week and the fact that he formed a new promotional group has given aficionados signs that things are looking up.
