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Philippines, 13 Feb 2026 |
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ZONIO: WARDING OFF ARUM?S BLATANT INSULT By Aquiles Z. Zonio PhilBoxing.com Thu, 01 Mar 2018  I WAS right all along when I wrote after the biggest broad daylight boxing heist in Australia last year that astute promoter Bob Arum was trying to set up a blockbuster fight between his two boxers ? Terence Crawford and Jeff Horn. Crawford and Horn are scheduled to square off atop the ring next month. And Arum wanted Manny Pacquiao to be in the undercard to add vignettes to the fight. As we all knew, Horn, one of the dirtiest boxers I?ve ever seen atop the ring, bullied his way to victory against the world?s one and only eight division boxing champ during their July fight last year in Brisbane. Horn?s first title defense held last December was a flop. Arum?s recent staging of Crawford?s boxing match was also a dud. Crawford is a guy devoid of charisma. He is not a crowd drawer. Crawford, despite his skills and status as among the top pound for pound fighters, has failed to win the hearts especially of casual boxing fans. Barely a month before the scheduled Crawford-Horn boxing match, nobody seems interested to watch the fight. You know, the Pacquiao-Horn fight in Brisbane was a setup. Just like the first Pacquiao-Bradley encounter. If you can remember, the result of Pacquiao-Bradley 1 was also very controversial. His contract with Arum then was expiring. Pacquiao was compelled to sign another contract with Top Rank to get a rematch with Bradley. During his fight with Horn, Pacquiao?s boxing contract with Arum was ending and based on all indications the Filipino boxing legend was no longer interested to renew it. Maybe, the Filipino ring icon had already realized that Arum wanted him to be the Top Rank?s perpetual cash cow. The wily promoter wanted Pacquiao to fight under Top Rank until the last day of his stellar boxing career. Arum?s reputation as boxing promoter is unsavory at best. Just ask the legendary fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather?s observation was absolutely true ? Arum is not giving first-class treatment even to his prized ward like Pacquiao. Maybe, Arum has forgotten the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, India?s famous freedom fighter. During his time, Gandhi emphasized that ?Business without morality can destroy a man.? Arum wanted Pacquiao in the undercard to boost the pay-per-view sales of Crawford-Horn bout. What a user and exploiter. No dice, Bob! Pacquiao has self-respect. He will never lend credence to a fighter who robbed him of the victory in Brisbane. Fighting in the undercard is tantamount to giving legitimacy to Horn?s highly-questionable win. By rejecting Arum?s offer, Pacquiao succeeded not only in warding off his promoter?s blatant insult but, above all, he has shown to the world he is a man of principles and self-respect. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.  |
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