Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on Monday took his congressional oath in the capital of Sarangani province in his native Philippines.
In a video released by Yahoo Sports, his acceptance speech included typical stuff such as, “We will work together to achieve our vision for Sarangani,” and, “Let us look forward to growth and development.” He also talked about sports advancement as well as the province having its own university.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, believes Pacquiao will do a terrific job.
“This was a dream come true and I think he’s going to make a hell of a congressman and he is going to amaze everybody at what he can accomplish,” Arum said via telephone from Las Vegas.
“I’m really sold on Manny, not only as a fighter but as a person. As a public official, there is something magical about him.” The plan
Arum hasn’t been able to say much about talks for a blockbuster fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as part of a pact made with the Mayweather side to not negotiate in the press.
But Arum said there is an alternate course of action should that fight fall through.
“We’re waiting for Mayweather and if we can make Mayweather-Pacquiao, then (Antonio)
Margarito would probably fight (Miguel) Cotto,” Arum said.
“If there is no Pacquiao-Mayweather, then Pacquiao will probably fight Margarito and
Cotto would fight (Julio Cesar) Chavez (Jr.). Two huge fights. I don’t have to rely Advertisement
on other promoters’ nonsense. I do everything in-house.”
All except Mayweather are promoted by Arum. Arum impressed by son of legend
Chavez won a wide unanimous decision over John Duddy on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. It was Chavez’s first fight under trainer Freddie Roach.
“Freddie’s a genius,” Arum said. “As good as he looked, it’s nothing like he’s going to look. The kid is so into what he’s learning from Freddie, that he will have the same attitude Pacquiao has.”
Roach also trains Pacquiao.
A challenge to Cotto and his junior middleweight belt would mean a move back down in weight for Chavez, who fought Duddy at middleweight.
In his previous fight against Troy Rowland in Las Vegas – just Chavez’s second at middleweight – Chavez afterward tested positive for a banned diuretic and received a short suspension. Boxers use diuretics for weight loss.
Arum said he has been told by Roach and Chavez’s conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, that Chavez can make the 154-pound junior middleweight limit, where he toiled for three years.
“I couldn’t say that, but they say that – Alex and Freddie – that he can make 154 easy,” Arum said. “They have ways to regulate the weight.
“These guys are professionals. They know what they’re doing. Food, nutrition. Before it was like the blind leading the blind and he would have to binge diet the week of the fight.”
