8CountNews spoke with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum this afternoon and got an update on Manny Pacquiao Vs. Tim Bradley. Arum also goes in depth and discusses the steroids issue in boxing, and what he feels needs to be done to clean things up.
Arum also breaks down the Pacquiao Vs. Bradley under-card. We also discuss the big ?hope so? fight, Pacquiao Vs. Mayweather. Arum says if Floyd wants the lions share let him earn it. Arum says that a 45/45 split winner gets the extra 10 percent is fair!
Arum also talks about a potential showdown between Jorge Arce and Nonito Donaire.
8CN ? Does Tim Bradley have a shot Vs. Manny Pacquiao?
Bob Arum – That’s a very tough fight because Bradley is younger and he matches Manny in hand speed and foot speed. I look for a very close competitive fight. Manny’s has an advantage because he hits harder than Bradley.
8CN ? I like the fight as well but if there’s any knock on Tim Bradley, it’s whether or not he sells tickets nationally. How’s that going so far?
Bob Arum ? Well the ticket seller is Manny, it’s always been Manny. We have less than 2000 tickets left. We have over 9 million in the box office, so we are doing very well.
8CN ? Can you break down the under-card for us?
Bob Arum ? Yes, I think it’s a very good card. IBF championship fight Mike Jones Vs. Randal Bailey. That should be a very good fight. We have the Super bantamweight title fight with Guillermo Rigondeaux who is the champion and has two gold Olympic medals to his credit. He will face Teon Kennedy. We also have Jorge Arce who is fighting Jesus Rojas from Puerto Rico. It’s a very strong card.
8CN ? Can we get an Arce Vs. Donaire fight soon?
Bob Arum ? Yes, Donaire fights at the end of June and Arce on June 9th. If they both win, we are arranging for them to fight in the fall.
8CN ? Where would you like to have that fight?
Bob Arum ? Probably in California, maybe at the Staples Center if it’s available.
8CN ? Do you see Nonaire perhaps taking the torch from Pacquiao one day? Is it possible?
Bob Arum ? Yes he does have a chance to do that. He’s a talented fighter and he’s a super kid. He could step into Manny’s shoes one day.
8CN ? Give me your thoughts on the whole steroids issue lately. What does the sport need to do to clean it up?
Bob Arum ? First of all, let’s not jump to conclusions on Andre Berto. Let’s get the facts out first. Overall though, it’s a huge problem in boxing. We are dealing with issues with this because if a fighter takes supplements and the manufacturer that made them also manufactured steroids and the equipment wasn’t thoroughly cleaned, traces of steroids can appear on an perfectly OK supplement. The NFL is doing it right. They tell their players of the one or two companies that manufacture supplements that never make steroids. This way there could never be any trace elements because they don’t manufacture medical steroids at anytime. So the NFL tells their players if you use those two places, you will never have any trace elements of steroids show up. This is what we should do in boxing and that might help with this problem.
8CN ? Of course I have to ask you about Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. On a scale of 1 to 10, a one being that it wont happen and a ten that it will, where are we at?
Bob Arum ? Well from my stand point and from Manny’s, assuming he beats Bradley… It’s 100 percent. A couple years ago the only issue was the drug testing. Manny has agreed to complete rigorous drug testing so that’s no longer an issue. The original deal from a few years ago was a 50/50 split, and I still have a copy of that contract. If Floyd now wants more than half, let him earn it. Why not 45/45 and the winner gets the other 10 percent? It would certainly create even more interest in a fight that would get tremendous interest.
8CN ? Let’s play make believe. If the fight happened, who do you think wins?
Bob Arum ? I think Manny would win. Floyd’s always been reluctant to fight a southpaw. Look at Floyd’s style, it’s for blocking right handed punches, and Manny would get his left in a lot more and with more power than Cotto did. Cotto hit him with plenty of lefts. I think Manny would win.
8CN ? Were you surprised by how successful Cotto was Vs. Floyd?
Bob Arum ? No not at all. Cotto is a terrific fighter.
8CN ? Thanks for the update Bob.
Bob Arum ? No problem Brad.
