Some people love a parade but Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum is different.
Uncle Bob, who turns 79 on Dec. 8 or nine days before his cash cow turns age 32, loves a charade.
That’s what this useless exercise of taking offers from Lou DiBella/Al Haymon for an April 16 Las vegas about against the Pinoy Idol for unbeaten and little-known Andre Berto is.
Ditto for Golden Goys, er I mean Golden Boys, putting pen to paper with an offer to supply Juan Manuel Marquez for a third bout against Pacman on the same date, same venue (MGM Grand).
“You know Bob, he loves a charade and that’s what it is when has the chance to make a Top Rank in-house promotion involving Manny and another fighter from his roster,” a rival promoter said Tuesday. “Love that Bob and that is how he rolls.”
Arum might just counter that an in house Pacman extravaganza just streamlines a promotion while, at the same time, putting more moolah into his corporate coffers.
What this all adds up to is Pacman against nearly age 40 Sugar Shane Mosley, coming off a one-sided decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and a lethargic draw against Sergio Mora which made watching paint dry seem compelling, on 4/6/2011.
Viva Las Vegas, yes, which needs to get back into the Pacman hosting business. But viva Sugarfree Shane?
To boxing insiders, the intriguing thing is how Arum will bring Mosley on board the Good Ship Top Rank.
One insider tells me Mosley finished up a five bout promotional deal with GBP and only has his vice presidential obligations remaining with Oscar de la Hoya’s outfit.
“My understanding,” this wise guy said, “is that Mosley, now guided by rap mogul James Prince, can give the Goldens a 30 day notice and become completely free of any tie with them. Whatever amount of equity (money) Mosley may have from his VIP/shareholder role would be forfeited but he would then be free to ink with Top Rank.”
For his part, Richie Rich has spoken sparingly and cryptically. As I recall, he told fight scribe Robert Morales something to the effect that Mosley “knows how to read a contact.”
Mosley, who also jettisoned Bombastic (Judd) Burstein as his lawyer recently, may not read contracts well but Rap A Lot guru Prince sure does. Prince recently settled a lawsuit against ex-light heavyweight champion Chadwick Dawson by taking over as the Connecticut boxer’s manager while pawn shop/check cashing store operator and manager Mike Criscio got pushed overboard.
Really, the only missing thread here is this, will Golden Boy sue Mosley? By doing so, GBP sends out a mixed message about one of its two full stripe VPs (the remaining one be Bernard Hopkins).
Also why would the Goldens want to block a Pacman foe when they still get their 25 percent out of Top Rank when Manny fights an opponent not tied to GBP?
I’m guessing that Oscar and Richard will grit their teeth, curse Mosley out privately but put on a happy face and look for their check from TR president Todd duBoef come April 17.
As for Arum, like he did when Pacquiao fought Clottey and Margarito, he gets to have his cake and eat it also.
The man loves a pro forma, meaningless charade.
Mosley’s getting the fight, the other tweo guys are getting the runaround.
