Philippines, 03 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


EXCLUSIVE<br>Pacquiao: Do Not Go After Arum (Part One)


PhilBoxing.com




GENERAL SANTOS CITY--Manny Pacquiao is still in deep, excruciating pain. The stitches from the head butts he suffered have already started to heal, the glow in his face is back, nary the tell-tale signs of a brutal brawl in Brisbane, Australia last Sunday.

Despite the serene mien, Pacquiao is trying to hide the wounds, the source of which are very much painful and deep. They are emotional in nature, the ones that heal most difficultly, a proverbial thorn in his side.

Prior to the fight with Jeff Horn which he eventually lost by a controversial fashion beamed and watched by millions around the world, Pacquiao was already bothered by Robert "Bob" Arum's behavior.

Pacquiao struggled past a very formidable "opponent" even before the first punch was ever thrown and Arum had a lot to do with it.

In and around January 2017, five months prior, Pacquiao faced off with his 85-year-old promoter Arum who apparently tried to systematically diminish, devalue and disrespect Pacquiao, the boxer, who is also a respected and well-loved senator of the Philippines.

According to unimpeachable sources, Arum, the shrewd and cold-blooded businessman, battled Pacquiao in a game of high-stakes "poker" translating to millions of dollars, which could be either won or lost by both sides. Initially, Arum offered Pacquiao a measly 30 percent stake from the whole Australian "pie" when the negotiations were underway leading to the Horn fight.

The main reason why the Australia fight broke down initially was due to Pacquiao's thumbing down and rejection of Arum's bluff. Arum's deal-breaker of a proposal was for him to get a promoter's fee of 20 percent of the whole pie and his Australian counterpart, Duco Promotions, getting the other 50 percent for a total of 70 percent.

The thirty-twenty-fifty (30-20-50) percent proposition was so unacceptable and insulting that Pacquiao ordered his team to look somewhere else, in an unusual defiant stance against the wily fox Arum's wishes. Arum will not participate in dealing with prospective bidders, including Dubai and a consortium from the United Arab Emirates, unless he gets his acts straightened out.

Arum, as history would later reveal, succumbed and agreed on a deal giving Pacquiao more parity and a reported $10 million guarantee and not the pittance of a "30-20-50" sharing scheme reminiscent of scenes from the Merchant of Venice.

"Huwag na ninyo siyang tirahin," said Pacquiao. "Matanda na siya." ("Do not go after Arum," said Pacquiao, "He is already old"). This, despite Arum's approval of the results of Pacquiao's fight with Horn, which was much criticized around the world.

Pacquiao's contract with Arum expired during the Horn fight. A rematch clause is stipulated in the contract and Pacquiao, now free from any contractual obligations, is still keeping his options open whether or not to renew with Arum.

"I just noticed something was not right and their body language revealed things that I did not notice before," said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao was Arum's former premium milking cow, the darling of his eyes, the crown jewel of Top Rank Promotions, the reason why Arum would fly thousands of miles from America to the Philippines many times over just to get a document signed, sealed and delivered. Pacquiao raked in millions for Arum including some of the biggest fights in history during the last 10 years or so, like the epic Pacquiao Vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. mega-fight.

###

Editor's Note: Winchell Campos is the official biographer of Manny Pacquiao. He is authoring "Pacquiao," the real-life story of the only eight-weight division boxing champion.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Reyes Siblings New Champions in US chess tourney
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • DC Half Marathon on March 8 at Freedom Park
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Athletics Festival Season 4 on March 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Nuñez vs Navarrete: Knuckle Up for a Certified Banger
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • ‘There's no way I'm going to lose’ -- Holly McMath looks to make a statement in high-stakes trilogy fight
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER AND FINAL WORDS FOR NAVARRETE VS. NUNEZ
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS: PIERCE VS. PARRA
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • Former US President Obama will donate Ali gloves to his presidential library
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • Almacen Brothers Make Weight, Ready for Battle in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Four United States Women's Boxers Shine Bright on Day Four of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.