Bobfather On Mayweather Fight: I would like to see it happen, Manny would like to see it happen and Freddie would like to see it happen, so we’ll see what happens.”
GL: It’s been a little while since we’ve had you on Boxingtalk, first of all, I imagine you’re thrilled about Manny’s win in the Philippines. Tell us all about it. “It’s one of the most memorable experiences of my life. We really worked hard. Manny really had a very good organization this time. It was a real ground swell. In every veranga we won, we took every municipality. He swept everything across the board. It was an overwhelming vote for Manny in an election most people thought he wouldn’t win.”
GL: Do you think the election win and these additional responsibilities will impact how he’s able to train as a boxer?
Bob Arum: “I am sure that it will have no impact on his preparation for fights and no adverse effect. Indeed, it might even be helpful because instead of relaxing and playing billiards and other things, during his down time, he will be making legislative policy and he congressman in the Philippines is more than somebody who passes legislation. He is a chief executive of his province. His government will be giving him over $15,000,000 to spend on discretionary projects in his province, so he will have a big responsibility to send funds for the poor people of his province. But the two times a year that he will be fighting, and the two months of hard training he will need, it won’t effect his work as a congressman or his ability to perform.”
GL: Your thoughts on Mayweather-Mosley were?
BA: “I thought it was sad to see Mosley, who is such a great fighter, suddenly get old. When he hit Mayweather with that punch in the second round, the old Mosley would have had the ability to finish Mayweather off. This Mosley just didn’t have the strength or stamina to do it. That’s how it looked to me.”
GL: What are the chances of the world getting the fight it wants Mayweather-Pacquiao?
BA: “I talked with Manny and that’s the fight he wants to happen above all others and hopefully it will happen. It even has a greater world wide appeal now that Manny is a congressman, because the stories of him becoming a congressman have resignated all over the world. My son was lecturing in Israel, he just came back and it was in all of the Israeli papers about the election. The Times of London was with us, Time Magazine, Bloomberg news. This was something over and above a boxing story. That means greater awareness for a fight around the world.”
GL: Has the congressman changed his position on the steroid testing at all?
BA: “I’m not going to discuss anything regarding anything to the negotiations. I said I wouldn’t do it and I’m not going to do it. As far as I’m concerned that question is out of bounds.”
GL: What are the chances that this universal silence will lead to a deal getting done?
BA: “Obviously at least on my part, there’s the hope that we get it done. Other than that I can’t say. I would like to see it happen, Manny would like to see it happen and Freddie would like to see it happen, so we’ll see what happens.”
GL:What’s next for Margarito?
BA: “We’re going to have to sit down with him soon and figure that out.”
GL: Stadium Slugfest is right around the corner, how is everything going in relation to that promotion?
BA: “Yeah, that’s going well. Tickets are going well and the Yankees are getting into it now. We’re going to have full house of 35,000 on June 5. I think the fans are going to see a good fight, they’re going to see a much improved Cotto at the hands of Emanuel Steward and a well prepared, dedicated, Yuri Foreman. I think it’s a going to be a terrific fight and the undercard fight that night is going to be Vanes Matirosyan against Joe Greene, and those two undefeated fighters should put on a good fight.”
GL: Emanuel Steward hasn’t had any immediate impact on guys like Jermain Taylor, Kermit Cintron etc., what makes you think things will be different for Cotto?
BA: “Yeah, but he did with Wladimir Klitschko.”
GL: “That’s the exception, but if you remember that didn’t get off to a great start with Wladimir’s loss to Brewster. But let’s move on, why is Kelly Pavlik not exercising the rematch clause with Martinez?
BA: ” He can’t make the weight anymore. He had to eat mussels to get down there. Kelly is a 170 pounder, so he can make 168. But he shouldn’t fight lower than that.”
GL: At 168 the fight HBO would want is Lucian Bute.
BA: “Correct, and that’s the fight we’re looking at and I think it’s already in discussion. I don’t know if there’s a target date yet. When you’re in the Philippines and the time difference is so great that you really can’t get a lot accomplished over here. I’m just getting caught up on what Carl, Todd and Bruce have been doing.”
GL Closing thoughts?
BA: “I think as the years go on, I’m going to become more of a political operative than a boxing promoter. I think I have found my true profession. Good to talk to you.”
