Why Roach isn't optimistic of Pacquiao-Floyd fight

MANILA, Philippines – More than ever, boxing promoter Bob Arum is positive that Manny Pacquiao will get to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime in 2015.

The Top Rank Inc. CEO said he had conversations with CBS executive Leslie Moonves who reportedly had talks with his counterparts in HBO regarding the mega bout.

It looks like the TV networks are working it out to make sure that the fight gets done next year.

“I've had a number of meetings with the chairman of the board of CBS, Leslie Moonves and he's reported back to me about his meeting with Mayweather camp,” Arum told ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.

“We're getting very, very close, I can't reveal anything, I am really optimistic that we'll get this fight done for first 6 months of 2015.”

“The optimism is justified because I'm not talking to some low level guy... I'm talking to the chairman of the board of CBS, whose had conversation with HBO... all signs for me, it's going to be a go.”

But Pacquiao’s coach is not so optimistic.

Freddie Roach said the bout should have happened a couple of years ago.

"I hope it's true, but I don't see it happening. I don't see it," Roach said in ESPN.com. "It's been three to four years. It should have happened by now. What makes it different this time?”

He added that Pacquiao is bound to hurt Chris Algieri this Sunday and this, he believe, will further scare Mayweather.

“If Manny looks good against Algieri, it will make Mayweather say no even more, so I just laugh at all this. Negotiating the money alone won't happen. They'll never agree on the split Mayweather wants. There's a lot of work to be done, and I don't think it's possible," said Roach.

Arum admitted that Mayweather will have to say “yes” for the multimillion-dollar bout to actually happen.

If it doesn’t push through, Arum said he will meet with Pacquiao’s team to discuss their next move.

“I hope the Mayweather fight does happen... that's the fight we've been looking at for 5 years so it's about time that we make it happen. I hope we make it happen for next year, if not I'll meet with Manny, Freddie and Michael and we'll figure out what we're gonna do,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Arum: Pac-Bradley II will be bigger than first

MANILA, Philippines – Once the deal gets done, Top Rank promotions CEO Bob Arum is confident that he can easily sell the second fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.

The veteran boxing promoter said Bradley has already improved his drawing power since he is no longer the same unknown fighter that took on Pacquiao in 2012.

“I think a Bradley-Pacquiao fight now is much more saleable than the Bradley-Pacquiao fight was when it happened, because Bradley has shined his credentials,” said Arum in a Boxing Scene report by Keith Idec.

Although the unbeaten American went through a dark stage in his career due to his controversial win over Pacquiao, Arum said Bradley rallied back with a couple of good performances.

“He had an exciting fight with [Ruslan] Provodnikov and beat [Juan Manuel] Marquez. We’re dealing with a different Bradley from the relatively unknown guy who fought Pacquiao the first time,” said Arum.

Arum’s outfit is currently trying to close the deal with Bradley after Pacquiao has already agreed with all the terms issued by the American’s camp.

If everything goes right, the fight will take place on April 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We’re very, very close,” said Arum. “The negotiations are getting down to the nitty gritty.”

Pacquiao first fought Bradley in June 2012 where he lost via a split decision despite a dominating performance.

The loss was the first of two defeats he incurred in 2012. His other defeat was a knockout loss to Marquez in December 2012.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Arum meets with Marquez, promoter – report

MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum reportedly met with Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Zanfer Promotions boss Fernando Beltran regarding a potential fifth fight between “Dinamita” and his Filipino rival Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Boxing Scene cited Jose Luis Camarillo and Miguel Rivera, who reported that Arum met with Marquez and Beltran in Mexico.

“We’ll discuss things with Juan Manuel for his next fight,” Arum said. “I agree that for this year, a fifth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Marquez is a priority.”

“There is the possibility (of holding the fight in) Macau or in the Mexico City Arena,” he added.
Marquez defeated Pacquiao for the first time in their long saga last December, when he knocked out the Filipino idol with one second to go in the sixth round.

Though he considered hanging up his gloves following his sensational win, Marquez opted to continue his boxing career. Recently however, “Dinamita” said he is not keen on fighting Pacquiao for a fifth time.

“Juan Manuel understands the business of boxing,” said Arum, who has previously claimed that Marquez was only "negotiating" when he made his statement.

“A boxer is worth what he produces, and of course if there is a big fight in store for him, he is going to make a lot of money,” he added.

Arum did admit that it is possible for Pacquiao and Marquez to face other opponents, including unbeaten Americans Timothy Bradley Jr. and Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios.

The Top Rank boss also guaranteed that if Marquez fights Pacquiao for a fifth time, the Mexican stands to receive the biggest purse of his career.

“The only thing that I can say is it will be better than what it was in December,” Arum said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Arum assures Marquez of bigger pay in 5th Pacman bout

MANILA – Boxing promoter Bob Arum assured Juan Manuel Marquez that he will be paid handsomely should he agree to a fifth clash with Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez reportedly got a guaranteed $6 million in his December fight against Pacquiao, which he won via a stunning sixth-round knockout.

"Marquez made his career-high pay day the last time, and he knocked out Pacquiao, so he's not going to get less than he got the last time," said Arum in RingTV.

Despite rumors that he’s likely to go on fighting, the 39-year-old Marquez has yet to formally announce if he’ll continue his boxing career after conquering Pacquiao.

This fueled speculations that Marquez is withholding his decision to raise his stock.

But Arum believes otherwise.

He pointed out that Marquez is already financially secure, and that the purse won’t be an issue in a fifth Pacquiao fight.

"That's not a negotiating ploy. If you're Marquez, and he's a real proud guy who, unlike a lot of fighters, saved his money. So, he's got a university degree in accounting,” said the Top Rank CEO.

Marquez's trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain, earlier, said that a “rich prince” has offered Marquez $15-million to fight South African boxer Zolani Marali in Dubai.

But Beristain admitted that the fight is unlikely to take place since Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions have the inside track in staging Marquez’s next fight.
 
source: abs-cbnnews.com