I would hardly say that Golden Boy’s announcement that Marco Antonio Barrera will defend his WBC title against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on St. Patrick’s Day ruined Bob Arum’s first day back in his Top Rank office this year.
I phoned Uncle Bob to tell him word was out that, all deadlines aside, Richard Schaefer was informing people that Barrera would not try to fight Manny Pacquiao next but would instead take on Marquez.
Arum did not weep. He did not grind his teeth. Instead, he sounded happy.
“Good,” the Top Dog of Top Rank said. “If that is the case, then that is the case. Now we will see who Manny chooses from the list of nine, very viable opponents (Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto is thought to be the #1 candidate) that we gave him. It’s all up to Manny now because he will then fight in April in Macau at Steve Wynn’s hotel-casino.”
Arum thinks Barrera’s selection may hasten the end of the Mexican legend’s career.
“Barrera will lose and he will make less money than he would’ve made against Manny,” Arum said. “No doubt, Marquez will beat Barrera. Is that a PPV fight? I don’t think so, certainly not as a standalone fight. It’s just not a PPV, special event type PPV fight by itself.”
Arum said he will now just wait for Pacman’s pick.
