IF you ask me, I will go beyond the rematch ruse. But, wait, Jingo, the predicate for it, please?
Timothy Bradley started it.
Early on in the pre-fight hype, Bradley brandished a tarpaulin, a streamer, or something, declaring that he?ll give Manny Pacquiao a return bout.
That means that from the very beginning, he was sure of winning, for only a Bradley win would pave the way for the rematch.
He kept doing that in his future pitches to sell the fight. I guess he did it at least three times.
To be sure, the return bout clause was contained in the contract when the June 10 fight was inked by both fighters early this year.
I don?t know if Bradley did it for gratitude purposes.
Maybe, yes. Bradley was hardly seen in the radar as Pacquiao?s next foe after the PacMan defeated Juan Manuel Marquez by majority decision in November.
If you construe that Bob Arum was part of the BRA (Bradley Rematch Act), you will not be faulted for it. Arum also promotes Bradley, you know.
If there?s one guy who made the Pacquiao-Bradley happen, that can only be Arum since he handles both boxers.
That is why, this: I?m still having second thoughts if Arum is really serious with his ear-splitting insinuations of foul play in the split decision victory of Bradley on June 10.
Who?d benefit from Arum?s call for an investigation of the two judges? decision making Bradley the winner?
Nobody but Pacquiao.
If, in the most unlikely event that the verdict would be reversed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, what kind of benefit would Bradley derive from it?
Nothing. Nada.
It?d be back to square one for Bradley, if not back to the salt mines once again for the once nondescript boxer until June 10 came along.
Worst, there might not be a rematch even.
Oh, wait, Pacquiao, out of the goodness of his heart ? again ? might yet agree to a rematch. Pacquiao has been known to do more stupendous philanthropic acts than that.
But then, again, nuances of boxing rules getting into play, rematch chances are, sad to say, slim and none.
Therefore, Arum is simply that: All sound, no fury.
