TOP Rank head Bob Arum, main promoter of the March 19 Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao bout, prefers a rematch between the Mexican legend and the Filipino idol over a fourth installment of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales rivalry.
Arum, in an interview with Las Vegas Review Journal’s Kevin Iole yesterday, said that he would rather see Morales take on Pacquiao again because he believes “it will perform better in pay-per-view.”
“The Filipinos add a huge twist to this equation,” Arum told Iole, in reference to the record-shattering 350,000 buys generated by the recent fight.
“The delay on HBO for Pacquiao had a larger-than-usual audience,” Arum said. “So many people watched that fight and are still talking about it. The delay for Morales-Barrera was nothing out of the ordinary. Having the fight on Thanksgiving weekend was not the best time, but my analysis is that everybody who watched Morales-Barrera watched Morales-Pacquiao, plus we added the Filipinos.”
Earlier, Arum had hinted that he might put Morales and Pacquiao in a double-header against separate foes in September, then follow it up with their rematch later this year. Arum was apparently unaware of Morales’ recent pronouncements that he plans to move up in weight and face Diego Corrales next.
Arum, however, said he can only carry out his plans after Pacquiao’s legal situation has been cleared, noting the feud involving Pacquiao’s handlers Shelly Finkel, trainer Freddie Roach and their lawyers against promoter Murad Muhammad and Rod Nazario.
