BOB ARUM, whose promotional outfit Top Rank handles the affairs of Erik Morales, was in San Francisco recently to drum up the March 19 slugfest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas featuring Morales and Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao.
Arum, who was instrumental in the staging of the Thrilla in Manila in 1975, also took the opportunity to praise the Filipino lefty.
According to the Contra Costa Times, Arum was in the Bay Area “to pump” the Morales-Pacquiao clash to the Mexican and Filipino communities which will be shown on HBO Pay-Per-View.
Writer Jay Heater quoted Arum as saying that the Bay Area “in terms of pay?per?view buys, it is one of the hottest spots in the country.”
Arum vividly remembers the last time in Nov. 2001 when Top Rank was involved in a promotion in San Francisco and it featured Pacquiao against Agapito Sanchez of the Dominican Republic underneath the Floyd Mayweather-Jesus Chavez main card at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in downtown SanFo.
“I am absolutely astounded how strong and well-conditioned Pacquiao is and how hard he punches,” Arum told Heater.
“These are guys who will throw bombs at each other as long as they can stand. I think the guy who takes the least punishment will be able to prevail. And I think Erik probably is the better boxer.”
Arum is confident of breaking the 325,000 buys generated during the third fight between Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera late last year.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao expressed optimism over his chances of toppling Morales in their scheduled 12-rounder.
Contacted by the Bulletin shortly after ring announcer Michael Buffer declared that Bernard Hopkins had successfully defended the world middleweight crown at the Staples Center in the heart of Los Angeles early yesterday afternoon, Pacquiao said he is raring to go up the ring and test the mettle of his fancied Mexican rival.
“Walang problema sa training ko,” said Pacquiao. “Excited na talaga akong umakyat ng ring para bakbakan na.”
“Everything is going fine with my sparring here,” added Pacquiao, who is a slight favorite according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.
Pacquiao is keenly awaiting the arrival of business manager Rod Nazario, who left for Los Angeles late Sunday night. Nazario flew straight to the US after flying in from Bangkok, where he accompanied Bobby Pacquiao.
Joining Nazario in the 12-hour journey from Manila to LA is Lito Mondejar.
