Pacquiao: “My next move depends on my promoter Bob Arum”

By Boxing News - 04/13/2014 - Comments

pac83By Chris Williams: If you’re hoping that Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KO’s) will now step it up after his 12 round unanimous decision win over WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (31-1, 12 KO’s) last night, then you’re going to have to put that hope in the hands of Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum because Pacquiao gave his famous “I don’t know it depends on my promoter Bob Arum,” line when asked by HBO’s Max Kellerman who he plans on fighting next.

You’d like to have seen Pacquiao take a stand right then and there with Arum looking over his shoulder and said in a firm manner that he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or someone else really talented like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Erislandy Lara or Gennady Golovkin. But Pacquiao pulled out the old “it depends on my promoter Bob Arum” bit, and that probably means that Pacquiao will be facing one of Arum’s Top Rank stable fighters like Mike Alvarado or another go round with Juan Manuel Marquez for what will be a fifth time.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Arum has Pacquiao fight Bradley in an immediate rematch if their fight last night turns out to be a success in bringing in a lot of pay-per-view buys. I already expect that the less than spectacular undercard that we saw last night on the Pacquiao-Bradley 2 undercard are here to stay and will be a regular fixture for Pacquiao’s undercards in the future.

I want to see Pacquiao break the pattern of fighting the same old guys, and look to take some real risks with his career like he did in 2009 when he fought Miguel Cotto. That was a good fight except for the catch-weight handicap that Pacquiao had. In the past 5 years, Cotto is really the only interesting opponent that Pacquiao has had, as far as I’m concerned. Marquez stopped being an interesting opponent for me after 2008 after his controversial decision loss to Pacquiao. It’s just been reruns with him ever since.

Pacquiao would have so many huge fights if he would simply pick out guys for himself and tell Arum he wants this guy or that guy instead of letting Arum call the shots with his career. It’s really disappointing with the way that Pacquiao isn’t more assertive with his career choices.



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