It looks like the legally-induced ?honeymoon? between Oscar de la Hoya and Bob Arum and their respective boxing promotional companies is over. Both Arum?s Top Rank and Oscar?s Golden Boy Promotions are back to putting their own self-interest first and foremost.
Had to happen, it?s human nature after all and, yes, fight promoters are humans, too.
Why do I say the hot to trot romance is cooling? Exhibit A is the Manny Pacquaio Opponent Derby.
Arum is pushing extremely hard for Pacman to slide up to 135 pounds and hopefully relieve David Diaz of the WBC title. Arum knows, as does Oscar, that signing David will be a lot cheaper than satisfying GBP?s leading candidate, WBC 130-pound champ Juan Manuel Marquez.
Arum keeps braying like the Democratic donkey he is about JMM?s asking price being sky high and untenable. Even if he playing bad cop to GBP?s good cop, Marquez is unlikely to acquiesce to a discount price. The Mexican will want to be paid reasonable PPV TV money which is far and above what a low profile champ like Diaz can command.
One thing Oscar and Arum do see eye to eye on is that neither Joan Guzman or his Nov. 17 opponent Humberto Soto has, at least now right now, the wider following that Marquez can boast of. On the other hand, there is no Morales Magic or Barrera Bombast to be found in Marquez, either.
If Marquez doesn?t budge and reduce his price, Arum has a solution. Let Manny be Manny and let Manny personally select his next foe.
That works well for Uncle Bob, particularly if he has ?sold? Pacman on taking Diaz next.
At the end of the day, Oscar willl always do what’s best for GBP and Arum will do the same for his outfit. That’s how they got in their legal brawl to start with.
It brings to me the mind the old tale about the snake that couldn’t get across the pond. Snake asked the turtle for a ride. Turtle gets the snake from one side to another. Snake then bites turtle’s head.
“Why, Mr. Snake, would you do that? I just gave you a ride to safety as you asked.”
“Because,” Mr. Snake said, “I am a snake and that is what snakes do.”
Maybe Manny Pacquiao is a snake charmer but I doubt it.
