Freddie Roach has joined the promotion. Or should I say the anti-promotion, the vibrant and growing boxing backlash against Bob Arum?s hand-picked next Manny Pacquiao opponent, Humbled. I mean Humberto Soto.
Paclanders the world over are speaking out, some vehemently, against the tough but otherwise ordinary Mexican fighter, being Megammany?s Nov. 15 opponent.
No joke but Coach Roach is calling for Pacman?s final fight of 2008 to be against Roach?s old pal and former student Oscar de la Hoya. In Roach?s view, Pacman can fight and beat Oscar for a huge jackpot and then fight popular Ricky Hatton next year.
Roach said that promoter Arum never even mentioned Soto to him. Roach made his comments to scribe Brad Cooney.
Financially, Roach makes plenty of sense but I can?t see Oscar fighting either Manny or Hatton as he winds down his legendary career.
One, Oscar will looking to exit on a high note meaning a victory.
Two, Oscar The Promoter could make himself a pariah in the Phillipines if he beats up the much smaller Pinoy idol.
Three, why would Oscar want to alienate some many Hatton fans in the UK by beating up that also much smaller man?
Golden Boy is handling Pinoy fighters and British fighters and I can?t see ODLH wanting to thrash two such massively popular midgets.
Getting back to Soto, it seems as though Uncle Bob has some fence mending to do with Coach Roach.
This is how boxing brush fires turn into massive forest fires. A divided Manny Pacquiao camp works only to the benefit of those who say they wish Megammany well when they really wish him hell.
Are you listening, Brother Arum?
