Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum’s more than 44 years has included promoting Muhammad Ali, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather. Jr, and George Foreman, the latter of whom became the oldest man to win a heavyweight championship when he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th-round at the age of 45 in November 1994.
But when it comes to experiences with fighters, there is nothing that ranks higher in Arum’s stable than the promotional ride that he has taken with eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao, current winner of 13 straight fights with eight knockouts during that run, as well as the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) and WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belts.
“Muhammad Ali was a beloved figure in his prime, but also a reviled figure. There were people on both sides of the political spectrum, particularly regarding the war in Vietnam. The ones that opposed it loved Ali, and the ones who were in favor of it didn’t,” Arum has told FanHouse.
“But until he was long-retired, Ali was never the universally admired figure in this country and around the world like Manny Pacquiao, who is someone different,” said Arum. “Anybody who is aware of Manny Pacqiao loves him, admires him, and there are no haters. There is no right or left when it comes to Manny Pacquiao. That’s made him a more universally revered figure than Muhammad Ali.”
In this video, Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, said he agrees with Arum’s assertion of Pacquiao, who is 52-3-2, with 38 knockouts.
