A concerned but not seemingly aggravated Bob Arum phoned late Thursday night to say that, despite my exclusive Boxingconfidential story about the persistent rumors running through the boxing world that Manny Pacquaio is seeking more money or an exit from the Oct. 6 bout against Marco Antonio Barrera, everything is copacetic in Pacland.
Such rumors have been bouncing off walls in Mania, Mexico City, Las Vegas, New York and even at Barrera?s secluded Mexican training camp. Some of Top Rank?s staffers worried that, because the rumors keep reverberating, that they had ?legs? or substance.
But Bob Arum, world traveler, threw out what little French he knows to put the kibosh on the Dissatisfied Pacman reports.
?Au contraire,? Uncle Bob told me just before midnight New York time (remember where you heard it first). ?Where these rumors started or why I don?t understand. Manny?s been a perfect gentleman and Freddie Roach tells me he is training like an animal.?
Here I should note that the Bobinator did not throw in a ?mon frere? after his ?on the contrary? phrase en francais.
Arum flatly denied being asked for by or refusing to fork over a $1,000,000 loan or advance payment to Megamanny.
?That is not true, either,? Arum said. ?He never asked me for a million bucks. We just finalized some things the other day, Manny wanted $200,000 as an advance and I sent it out to him per Nevada law. I just spoke, minutes ago, with Freddie and with (attorney) Jeng Gacal and they told me Manny is fine, he is feeling and looking great.?
Arum noted that, as part of his purse, Pacman gets the Filipino TV licensing fee which, the promoter said, is worth ?well over? a million dollars.
?Manny is extraordinarily happy with this deal. Manny and Top Rank are getting the lion?s share of the total percentage on this fight.?
Arum was asked why he thought persons affiliated with the World Boxing Council and people in Barrera?s inner circle believe the Mad Manny rumors.
?Who knows and who cares?? Arum said. ?The WBC is pissed because this fight won?t be for Manny?s WBC International title and they got no sanctioning fees. Nobody wants to pay sanctioning fees any more because they are ridiculous. There?s no title, it?s a 12-rounder, with no title at stake.
?As for Barrera?s camp, I can?t figure that out.?
I thanked Uncle Bob for giving me his ?side of the story? and he cut me off.
?It?s not my story, it?s the truth,? Arum said.
Or, at the very least, late Thursday?s edition of ?the truth.? Tomorrow, as they say, is another day. I wonder what he will say Friday after his morning croissant and perusal of Boxing Confidential and then Le Monde.
If the rumors pan out, Arum may say, “Sacre bleu!” or worse. Cover your tender ears, les enfants!
