“What do fat people and relationships have in common?” inquired Big Steve as we ordered lunch at Porto’s Bakery on Brand Boulevard:” They don’t usually work out.”
“Is this a dig at my infrequent attendance at the Y?” I asked
“No, but if the shoe fits wear it,” replied Big Steve:” I was actually thinking about relationships. Why Floyd and Bob Arum’s went so sour and why Oscar and Uncle Bob are still at odds. Didn’t Arum make both of these guys’ big stars?”
That is a one hundred million dollars question. I believe if these three were on friendly terms Mayweather Pacquiao fight would have already taken place.
Several months ago, for the good of the sport, Oscar De La Hoya issued a public apology to Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum for insinuating that Manny used performance enhancement drugs. It resulted in Manny Pacquiao dropping a defamation law suit against Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, but more than that it brought back communication between two major promoters, Golden Boy and Top Rank. Did it do much for the good of the sport? So far, promoter’s collaboration produced a fight between Gamboa and Ponce De Leon. Well, it is at least a step in the right direction.
However, there seems to be deep rooted resentments between all parties involved. Recent announcement from team Mayweather about him returning back to the ring on May 5th of next year did not bring joy or hope for a much anticipated mega fight to Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum. Arum simply called the announcement nonsense.” That’s not the way to do business,” he said.
Promoter, Oscar De La Hoya claims that the only person who is holding up a mega fight is Bob Arum. In a recent interview Oscar said that they have received an official letter from retired judge who has been involved in mediation of Pacquiao Mayweather fight from the beginning and the letter stated that Bob Arum was not considering Mayweather fight.
Despite an apology Oscar believes that Arum is a root of all evil in boxing.
“Don’t worry people, once Arum is not promoting anymore,” said De La Hoya via Twitter:” I will make sure the sport I dearly believe and love will resurge to its glory days.”
Are we talking about four kings; Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Roberto Duran? Or are we talking about good old days of Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles?
“If it was up to me and Bob Arum was not around,” continued former multi division champion and pride of East Los Angeles:” Golden Boy would do Pac vs. Mayweather, Chavez Jr. vs. Martinez and Rios vs. Maidana.”
If we are going to keep day dreaming we might as well add a heavyweight showdown between Klitschko brothers and make an unprecedented pay per view card that would feature four monster fights in lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight divisions. And while we are at it let’s get rid of all sanctioning bodies and just keep one like we have in NFL or in NBA, let’s call it Universal Boxing League. We will have only one champion at each division and two best fighters at each weight would have to fight each other once a year, just like a Superbowl; I t would be mandatory, a culmination of the year. That would guarantee Pacquiao Mayweather next year.
Coming back to the real world, we will have to see if promoters and fighters can put their differences aside to give fans what they want. Stay tune.
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Contact Igor Frank at axident@pacbell.net or follow me on Face book or follow me (Fightmonger) on Twitter
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