Just like managers named Terry Francona (Red Sox) and Joe Gerardi (Yankees), Bob Arum has to keep stocking his bullpen.
And the vibrant, 78 year old head of Top Rank is continuing to do just that.
Edwin Valero, with the glittering 27-0, all by KO record, just refurbished his saga with a onesided beating of Antonio DeMarcho on Showtime and Avuncular Bob was suitably impressed.
Arum revealed that that he is now hopeful that Venezuelan Valero will soon be able to legally enter the United States. The promoter hired noted LA immigration lawyer Frank Ronzio to try to get around the America ban on Valero due to a DUI case in Las Vegas.
“Edwin needed to go to an alcohol rehab program and he’s done just that, in Venezuela,” Arum said. “So Frank supplying that information to the authorities. We’re optimistic.”
Arum has obviously warned Valero to stop publicly saying that his support of controversial Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez is the reason U.S. immigration officals have blocked him.
“That’s all bullshit,” Arum said. “Edwin didn’t help himself with those kind of ridiculous comments and I let him know that. I think he believes it;’s a political conspiracy but it is ridiculous.”
Arum is so bullish on Valero now that he willing to roll the dice and throw the lefthanded slugger in with unbeaten 140 pound champion Tim Bradley.
“Gary Shaw and I both think we can make that fight,” Arum said.
Now we get around to the biggest reason for stocking the bullpen.
Valero and Antonio Margarito, returning from his one year suspension, can both be attractive fodder for TR’s cash cow, Manny Pacquiao, and part of Arum’s conginency plans should the Floyd Mayweather be impossible to make.
“Valero can go up to 140 now and we’ll see how he does. I think he and Manny would be an unbelievable fight in terms of their aggressive styles.”
