VETERAN promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotion said that though Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the favorite among bettors, the majority of boxing fans see Manny Pacquiao as the hero and the unbeaten American as the villain when the two preeminent boxers clash on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In Las Vegas sports book when the mega fight was confirmed, Mayweather (47-0 win-loss record with 26 knockouts) opened as a 2 1/2 to 1 favorite but lately more and more boxing fans are placing their bets on the underdog Pacquiao (57-5-2 record with 38 knockouts).
?The people love Manny ever since [Pacquiao] for his generosity and for a being a gentleman while Floyd on the other hand, you know is?? Arum told The Manila Times on Thursday during a phone interview. ?Manny is the hero and Floyd is the villain in this fight. Everybody loves Manny.?
Arum also expressed confidence on the competence of Pacquiao?s coaches in preparing the Filipino ring icon to nullify whatever strategies Mayweather may use when he meets Pacman on May 2. The 83-year old promoter said that he sees Pacquiao winning convincingly either by knockout or decision.
?Manny?s trainers and coaches are all intelligent. Manny is also a smart fighter and they can deal with it wisely. I?m confident that Manny can win convincingly by knockout or by decision with a large margin over Mayweather,? Arum said.
While Roach is yet to arrive in the United States from Macau, Pacquiao?s training is currently handled by assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri as well as strength and conditioning coach Justine Fortune.
Arum also denied that Mayweather?s promotion firm is the one that totally controls the entire promotion of the mega fight. ?There is no truth about it. Top Rank Promotion is also in control,? he said.
