MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is thinking ahead and will advise Manny Pacquiao to end his celebrated boxing career with a farewell ?legacy? fight in Manila late next year. Of course, it?s a bit premature to even predict whom Pacquiao will face in his swan song but Arum said there wouldn?t be a problem finding a willing opponent and even mentioned unbeaten WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios as a possibility.
At the moment, Arum is focused on finalizing Pacquiao?s next fight in May or June with Floyd Mayweather the Plan A opponent and four candidates lined up for Plan B. Arum was in Manila for five days last week to discuss options with Pacquiao. He is now in the US negotiating to arrange Pacquiao?s next fight. If it?s Mayweather, Arum said he prefers to stage the fight in a makeshift outdoor arena on the Strip in Las Vegas to accommodate 45,000 paying customers on June 9. If it?s not Mayweather, Arum will try to book Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley, Lamont Peterson or Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao has confided in Arum his choice as opponent but nobody is cleared to announce the decision.
What appears certain is Pacquiao will perform in four more fights before hanging up his gloves in late 2013.
?As you know, I?ve become very fond of Manny who?s like a son to me,? said Arum during his recent Manila visit. ?I think retiring in late 2013 would be good timing. Manny has a bright future ahead as a politician. You can?t be a boxer forever and Manny realizes that. I?d like him to retire with his faculties intact so he can enjoy a normal and fruitful life beyond boxing. Is Manny at his peak right now? I think so. He may not be as hungry as he was before but he?s still unbeatable in his weight division. He?s just as exciting and explosive as ever.?
Arum ruled out a world farewell tour for Pacquiao. Legends like Sugar Ray Robinson and Roberto Duran ended their careers fighting in foreign countries to reach out to global fans. Freddie Roach once suggested a similar tour for Pacquiao particularly as promoters in countries like England and Ukraine would pay big money to bring the Filipino icon to their shores. ?It?s about business viability,? said Arum. ?Big-time fighters have gotten spoiled by pay-per-view income. Manny stands to earn a lot more in Las Vegas or the US because of pay-per-view than any other part of the world.?
But Arum said the farewell fight in Manila will be an exception. ?I?d like the last fight to be in the Philippines,? he continued. ?It?ll be a legacy fight.? Arum initially disclosed his plan to writer Ed Graney in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. ?Life is uncertain, especially in politics,? said Arum, quoted by Graney. ?But this is the plan, that the end of his boxing career is in 2013. I would like his final fight to be in the Philippines as sort of a victory lap. And that will be it. If any of it happens with Mayweather or without Mayweather, I could care less. The Mayweather camp is only into playing games. Nobody cares about that. If you?re serious about making a fight, you don?t do it through the media. You sit down face to face and make a deal. All this stuff about May 5 is a bunch of nonsense. They?re amateurs.?
Arum said there?s a big difference between Pacquiao and Mayweather. ?Floyd is a great fighter,? Arum went on, quoted by Graney. ?There is no question about that. He knows boxing. But he really has nothing else of significance going for him. His legacy is the most important thing to him. For Manny, it?s less important. Boxing is just a step in the road to much bigger things ? to president of his country and then maybe, world leader. His plans are about the greater good of his people. He certainly doesn?t need to fight Mayweather to make that happen.?
Pacquiao?s goal is to run for governor of Sarangani in 2013 then for the Senate in 2016 and if destiny calls, for the presidency in 2022. ?I?m happy with what I?ve done in boxing,? said Pacquiao. ?I won?t compare myself to any other fighters but if we look at my record ? eight titles at different weights ? you know, I?m very happy. My job is to train hard and fight. Whatever (opponent) my promoter puts in front of me, I?ll fight.?
Arum said Pacquiao has the potential to become a future president. ?He has the tools but we all know it takes a lot of experience and smarts to become a contender for the presidency,? said Arum. ?Manny won?t be eligible as a candidate until 10 years from now. A lot can happen from now ?til then. He?ll have to prove himself capable in the next 10 years. One thing for sure, Manny?s heart is with his countrymen. He?s sincere in his mission to make life better for his people.?
