PACMAN?S PROMOTER ARUM IN PHILIPPINES
General Santos City, PI- In another promotional move that is indicative of both his boxing tenure and acumen, Top Rank?s Bob Arum arrived in the Philippine capitol (Manila) yesterday. On his way to General Santos City to support Manny Pacquiao in his bid to become a Congressman, Arum had some telling things to say. First of all, Steve Wynn?s resort in Macau appears to be the site of Pacquiao?s next fight. The opponent is this ?55-45? fight favoring Manny is none other than Venezuelan KO artist Edwin Valero (22-0, 22 KOs).
WHAT IS A ?55-45? FIGHT YOU ASK?
First of all, Valero is a ?puncher? in he purest sense of the word. Having never lost is also an intangible that one needs to look at if you are a Pac fan. Unbeaten guys, they have yet to learn how to lose. That ?0? on their log, for however long it lasts, is a factor that is hard to gauge because of ?astute? matchmaking. Although one would think that Arum?s people have ?scoped? out Valero and feel Manny can beat him, all of these combined factors make this a 55-45 fight. In other words, the 44-3-2, (35 KOs) Pacman is just a slight favorite.
NEXT FIGHT DEPENDS ON ELECTION RESULTS
Should Pacquiao win the Congressional seat, or were he to lose, that seems to be the determining factor as to whether or not he fights in September, October or November. Back to Arum for a minute, he is well aware that Pacman is his main draw. And while I realize that Steve Wynn can deliver a huge site fee and a 17,000 seat arena this fall, Manny needs to fight in Las Vegas. This is seen as a ?tune up? fight somebody close to the scene said. Top Rank is of the opinion that Manny can knock Valero over like a bowling pin.
BAUTISTA FACES DE LEON IN ?WORLD CUP?
Unbeaten (23-0, 17 KOs) Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista will apparently take on WBO 122 lb. champ Daniel Ponce De Leon (31-1, 28 KOs) in the Philippines. That means that Bautista?s win last Saturday on the Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya apparently isn?t worrying Ponce or Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes the Joel De la Hoya Sr. managed fighter. The fact that Rey was rocked and dropped by Sergio Medina (28-1, 16 KOs) illustrates ?leaks? in Rey?s boxing hull. Medina is nowhere near the puncher De Leon is.
TRAINER?S ROACH & FORTUNE GET ?DIVORCED?
It what was billed as a ?great relationship,? at least until now. Freddie Roach, the head trainer of Manny Pacquiao, and his co-trainer of Pacquiao, Justin Fortune have parted ways. Lots of dirt being hurled in this one! Too early to see what is really what, thus I?ll wait for the fallout.
