By Reni M. Valenzuela
“Let’s forget the May date,” Bob Arum of Top Rank told a Manila based reporter. So there’s the beef, and the sin.
Crystal clear: Arum holds the key and he now holds the responsibility of not making The Fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. All other arguments to the contrary are mere clouds that were made to fall during a recent interview with the “astute” promoter.
A reliable source from the Mayweather camp just told this writer that Money Floyd has agreed to a 50-50 split share of the purse as he did in the past. And that being revealed, what then or who stands in the way?
Bob Arum is the one giving the fans false hope, hope of always making the fight in the “future” as he has done on a number of similar occasions since time immemorial, only to always cook up a different and lesser fight for Pacquiao that the people would be inclined to “buy” simply because the popular Pacquiao is in the meringue cream for a main topping. Thus, money, more huge money is clearly the real reason. And it has nothing to do with the controversial 50-50 split purse between Floyd and Manny. Simply Arum’s insatiable craving for profits.
Poor Pacquiao, Arum “loves” him so much, for he has been made a “cash cow” by the latter’s promotional outfit for so long. About time Pacman and those who truly love him realize that.
Unbelievable lust for money by a scheming promoter and “allies” is the reason why, in spite of tremendous potentials, there was no Pacquiao-Mayweather in the past, no Pacquiao-Mayweather in May, and there would still be no Pacquiao-Mayweather in November just as Arum has successfully made the world believe and always makes everyone look forward to seeing the Mega Fight come true allegedly “always” in the months to come. Forever and ever, and never.
“What we are trying to accomplish, assuming Mayweather is going to fight in May and Manny is going to fight in June, is that we are pressing to see if we can get a contract signed between the two fighters for November,” Arum sells.
Be ensnared anew by Arum’s words if you want, but that’s mere sales talk and I won’t buy it. Sanity must prevail. If The Fight can’t take place at this time when it is nearest to making it because Pacquiao has finally agreed to a random drug test and Mayweather was greatly encouraged to get out of his shell to pursue Pacquiao upon seeing the latter’s poor performance against Juan Manuel Marquez, then the same highly anticipated fight can never be made at all. Unless, of course, when the time comes that the “astute” businessman Arum would see Pacquiao as a washed up fighter from whom he can’t squeeze draw milk any longer.
If Pacquiao and Mayweather would come to terms holding the fight in November, Arum assures, “that way the people will be assured that the fight is going to happen.” Wow, as if there would be trouble-free agreement or no “disagreement” by then, much less a contract to sign. Wow, as if his personal row with some people in Golden Boy and Mayweather Promotions has been patched up. Wow, as if he is certain about the outcome of the supposed another tune-up fight for Pacquiao and Mayweather in May and June. Wow, as if he holds tomorrow and directs destinies. And the “wowest” of them, as if he has no other “roadblocks” and “excuse cards” left in his sleeves to drop along the way .
Arum “reasons” out, “… therefore there won’t be any of these nonsense (Pacquiao-Mayweather in May) which we can put behind us so we can do a huge, huge promotion.” Wow again, as though all talks, controversies and commotion about this bout that have been going around the globe for the past three years are not more than enough as promotion and advertisements for the fight.
As a matter of fact, Arum himself and Top Rank, along with the other promoters may not be needed anymore, to make this mega fight happen. Pacquiao and Maywather just need to enter the same boxing ring with gloves and in proper uniform before cameras, and the world would be automatically abuzz to watch them with great relief, excitement and entertainment. Wow indeed!
renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com
