Congressman-elect Manny Pacquiao will officially be inaugurated into his office on June 30. His promoter, Top Rank, is planning to get it televised wherever he can.
These are fun times for promoter Bob Arum. He’s on top of his game at age 78 and is considered an elder statesman today but has more energy than the younger members of the media and other promoters following him.
His former rival Don King, also 78, has an occasional promotion but does more suing than promoting and is pretty much a part-timer these days after releasing most of his staff.
While only 72 hours since the election, Arum has been very optimistic about the fights Pacquiao has left as he is a month short of 31 years and six months old.
Arum believe Pacquiao may have as many as three fights left, including a rematch with Mayweather if their first fight is remotely close and the financial numbers approach what is being predicted.
World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman, 80, has been on top of his game at least as long as Arum and King and between the three of them that is a whopping 236 years of boxing experience that should be recorded or written down. Well, maybe some of it.
I spoke with Pacquiao adviser and Filipino historian Hermie Rivera a few hours ago on all things Manny and he had this to say:
“And so Manny Pacquiao gained what has eluded him thus far in politics— a thorough beating of Roy Chiongbian, the designated candidate of the powerful clan that’s been in control of Sarangani province since its creation in 1992.
It’s a mandate bestowed by a grateful constituents for Manny’s outstanding boxing achievements.
Now, they expect full service and service they’ll get from the novice polico who vowed to give ’em all that’s deserving for his caring people.
And that’s his priority Matt,” said the astute and wise Rivera.
