By Tim Wathen: With all the buzz surrounding last nights fight between WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley, I can’t help but ultimately place the blame on Pacquiao. In an era where superstar boxers go on to promote themselves, Pacquiao chose to stay with Top Rank. Not only did he stay but he extended his contract to 2013.
Call it loyal if you want but I don’t get it. For a guy who has had his hand in everything from game shows to cock fighting how did he not go on to promote himself? It would seem like a logical move going forward considering he fought most of the Top Rank fighters. Freddie Roach acknowledged having to look outside for more opponents. What a dangerous position for Manny to put himself in with Bob Arum.
I can’t say with 100% certainty that Arum had anything to do with last nights loss but it’s not beyond reason to think he did. There is the chance that the judges just saw the fight differently. They don’t have the benefit of monitors and only see it from one angle. I always do try to consider that. Back to Big Bob… He admitted he is going to make a ton of money on the rematch. I found it interesting how Arum owned all the questions that were undoubtedly going to be cast his way last night with his post fight comments. He played the Angry boxing purist role. It’s so transparent to me. Meet fire with fire and hope the public buys it. We’re not that dumb and he isn’t fooling anyone. Kudos to him for making a fight with less interest than we are used to involving Pacquiao and turning the rematch into a must see PPV. I don’t expect Manny to question Bob Arum publicly but I’m hopeful Roach will. Time will tell.
Comments are closed.