Bob Arum knows a political landmine when he sees one. As a young lawyer, fresh out of Harvard Law School, he was smart enough to become a ?Kennedy Democrat? when John was president and brother Robert was attorney general.
It was while working as a U.S. Attorney, sent out to pore over revenues and assess taxes for a world heavyweight title bout, that Arum saw how much money there was in boxing at the highest level. So Smart Boy Bob schmoozed his way in with football star Jim Brown and through Number 32, the Black Muslims and Muhammad Ali. Those were the heady days of Main Bout Inc., long before Arum formed Top Rank.
Arum sees a political landmine and liability in discussing a Manny Pacquiao-Edwin Valero WBA title bout. It has nothing to do with Pacman and everything to do with Venezuelan Valero who was refused a boxing license in New York in 2004. Valero?s licensing problems stem from a bad motorcycle accident and head injury suffered shortly before his first pro bout.
?This kid cannot get licensed anywhere in the United States,? Arum told Boxingconfidential.com. ?So he?s not viable when you?re talking about Manny fighting here in Vegas. The whole is a can of worms. I mean, who needs it? No commission in this country will give this guy a boxing license. I?m not looking to get drawn into that battle.?
Though Arum now makes nicey-nice with Oscar de la Hoya and Richie Rich Schaefer, he remains the baller and shot-caller on who Pacman fights, when he fights and how much moolah is involved.
Ironically, Akihiko Honda of Tokyo-based Teiken Promotions is quite chummy with Top Rank and Golden Boy. But even Valero handler Honda would likely admit Pacman-Valero won?t happen unless it occurs in Japan or Venezuela.
Pacquiao-Valero? If this proposed match was a stock, I?d say short it now. When Arum sees a political landmine, he reverses directions quick like any old soldier.
