By John F. McKenna (McJack)
It is not surprising that Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum thought that the judges who awarded WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) the decision over WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday night were correct.
Arum was quoted in the Manila Bulletin saying:
“The worst score was seven (rounds) to five (rounds) for Pacquiao and the eight to four rendered by HBO in house judge Harold Lederman was fair.”
Arum speaking from his home in Las Vegas said that the expectations for Pacquiao were too high and that even if he narrowly won a round he was not given the round.
Judge Robert Hoyle score the fight even at 114 – 114, while Judge Dave Moretti had it 115 – 113 in favor of Pacquiao. The 3rd Judge Glenn Trowbridge scored it 116 – 112 in Pacquiao’s favor. The crowd consisted of a large number of highly partisan Mexican fans who voiced their displeasure over the decision by booing Pacquiao during the post fight interview in the ring. It should be pointed out however, that there were many fans from all over the world who were not at all happy with the decision favoring Pacquiao.
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. camp, not surprisingly now appears to be interested in a match with Pacquiao although still insisting that Manny must “take the test”. The call for Pacquiao to “take the test” has been a rallying cry by Mayweather and his loyal fans, although it appears to have become a non issue when the Pacquiao camp months ago agreed to do the Olympic style drug testing required by Floyd.
In an interesting turn of events Bob Arum has called for yet another Pacquiao – Marquez fight which would be the 4th meeting between the two. This move has infuriated the Mayweather camp who, apparently feel that in lieu of Pacquiao’s less than stellar performance Saturday night, the time is right to take on the “Pacman”.
The wily and wise Harvard educated Arum who has pursued a fight with Mayweather for so long now seems to be turning the tables on the Mayweather camp who appeared to use one excuse after another to dodge a fight with Pacquiao. Arum over the past few months has said more than once that he would not chase after Mayweather and that they knew his number. Now the shoe has turned and it appears that Arum may not be answering his phone if he knows it is Mayweather’s people on the other end.
Could it be that Arum, who plays hard ball, will now be sticking it to “the man”? In this case “the man” is Floyd Mayweather Jr.
