Las Vegas is the venue of choice of Bob Arum for the explosive encounter between World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight king Manny Pacquiao and Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero on Nov. 8, but the fight might end up being staged in Houston or elsewhere.
Arum, who heads Top Rank, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal (LVRJ) that rival promoter Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is making it difficult for him to hold the Pacquiao-Valero bout in Sin City owing to pressures from the Oscar De La Hoya-owned outfit.
“Rebuffed in his attempt to bring Manny Pacquiao back to Las Vegas in November, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is accusing MGM Mirage officials of conspiring with rival promoter Golden Boy Promotions to keep his company out,” wrote boxing writer Steve Carp in a story that appeared on Saturday.
The 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center ? venue of Pacquiao?s last three fights ? is being eyed by Arum again for the Valero fight but was told that the facility can no longer accommodate him “on that date because it conflicts with two upcoming shows ? the Nov. 22 junior-welterweight fight between Ricky Hatton and Paulie Malignaggi and Oscar De la Hoya?s farewell fight Dec. 6 ? both at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“That?s the best place for it (Pacquiao-Valero),” Arum told Carp.
The MGM group also owns and controls Mandalay Bay.
“That?s a disgrace,” Arum told the LVRJ, claiming that GBP Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer is even threatening to pull out the De La Hoya headliner from the MGM if the Harvard-educated lawyer is given the go-signal to promote Pacquiao-Valero at Mandalay Bay.
“If they do this, Top Rank will never do another deal with MGM properties again.”
Schaefer countered that there?s no malice on their part, citing that the Dec. 6 show had been planned long in advance.
“Bob has to be very careful making those kinds of accusations. He should think first before he talks,” said Schaefer, who is De La Hoya?s right-hand man.
Top Rank and GBP had battled over the promotional rights of Pacquiao in 2006 until 2007 and there was a temporary lull in their feud when it was ordered by law that they co-promote Pacquiao?s next two fights, against Marco Antonio Barrera in October 2007 and Juan Manuel Marquez in March 2008.
The fire was rekindled anew after Pacquiao came out the winner over Marquez in their close 12-round bout.
Arum is batting for Valero, the reigning World Boxing Association super-featherweight titlist, to be given a license in the state of Nevada as he has been cleared to fight in Texas.
The Mexican media has reported that Houston has been selected as the venue to host Pacquiao-Valero in case it is not permitted to be held in Nevada.
