MICHAEL MARLEY'S PHILIPPINE DIARY, PART 12:
BOB ARUM SPEAKS UPON LANDING IN GENSAN:
“No question now, especially since both of their last fights are perceived as walkovers, that 99.5 percent of the public wants to see Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather next. Those two bouts were not competitive because both guys are so good.
“This is the biggest fight of all time, Mayweather against Pacquiao, and it has to happen. Now the fight is doable.
“I mean, out of 100 people, over 99.5 percent want this fight next. The other .5 percent, they don't care and they don't really give a spit. With any big fight, there is a right time to make the fight.
“The public demand reminds of when Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier the first time in 1971 so you have to do everything you can (as a promoter) to support that, to make it happen.
“I had my doubts on Mayweather wanting it but now Floyd now genuinely wants the fight against Manny. Floyd knows you can't putter around. For right now, I will not talk about negotiations and I won't go into negotiations showing my cards. These issues have to be talked about in private, not in public, and that was the mistake by Mayweather's people last time we tried to make it.
“I don't want that to happen again. If everything goes well, a good time for that fight would be November, that would be a perfect time.”
GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Like the cinematic “Blues Brothers,” Jake and Elwood, Manny Pacquiao is on a mission from God.
That is what just landed promoter Bob Arum said upon his arrival here after flights from Las Vegas to Manila and then Manila to Pacman's hometown.
Dazzling Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who "knocked out" Manny Pacquiao in his first electoral foray in Gensan, is now running for an expected to be elected mayor of boxer's hometown, General Santos City (Michael Marley Photo)
Arum arrived just in time, about 10 a.m. Thursday local time, to head out for an afternoon political rally in Sarangani as his Congressional campaign against billionaire Roy Chiongbian winds down. Voting for the office takes place, along with many other local and national elections including a battle for the Philippine presidency, on Monday.
Arum said something that he's told me before, that he will never go against the Pinoy Idol's political ambitions because the fighter is drawing on divine inspiration.
“Manny credits all his success to God, he really does,” the 78 year old Arum said. “Manny really feels he has a calling from God to run for office and to help the people, especially the poorest of the poor.
“It is not window dressing with Manny, it's a real spirituality just like another of my fighters, the rabbi to be and world junior middleweight champion, Yuri Foreman. Manny believes he is being directed by God so you cannot try to push him in another direction.
“My role is to be supportive here, I am not here to talk about (Floyd) Mayweather or any other fights. I did not come here with any fight offers, for Mayweather or anyone else. I don't want to distract Manny from the election campaign.
Favorite modes of transport in Gensan: Motorcycles, trikes and jeepneys (Michael Marley Photo)
“I'm here, in a limited way, as his political adviser,” Arum said, joking. “So I am a would be James Carville in this election.”
Arum said a misguided report that Pacman would fight Mayweather on Sept. 10 is “totally absurd.
“Who could properly stage such a big fight so close to Labor Day? I don't know where that one came from.”
Arum said he took Lunesta 3, a sleeping medication, to make his 13 hour flight from Vegas with a stopover in Vancouver easier to bear.
“They treat me great on Philippine Air Lines,” Arum said. “I have made nine trips over here to see Manny. They all know me.
“My only job here is to see that the new congressman from Sarangani gets elected, meaning Manny Pacquiao.
“When I get back to the States, after the elections here, I will go to work on the Mayweather fight. As a foreigner here, I am restricted and rightly so, from political participation. I am just here in support of Manny's ambition which is to help his own people.”
Arum said that should Pacman grant Mommy Aleng Dionesia's wish that he retire from the ring, he will also support that.
“I personally don't see that,” Arum said. “But, if Manny makes that decision, I will support it. I will throw him a big retirement party but I don't think this is what he will do."
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Comments
Pacquiao vs Mayweather
November 13, 2010
"Pound-For-Pound"
Dallas Cowboy Stadium
(Floyd can fight in other countries, then why not Texas?)
BOYCOTT either fighter if their next fight
is not against each other. Pacfans, Floydfans unite.
Sorry promoters, but listen to the paying public.
ok problem with texas is will the stadium be available in november...football wil be going on and the reason they got it easier was no football so that becomes a big problem but they said they dont have a problem fighting in texas because its big and they dont pay taxes like in vegas so i dont see a problem with it being in dallas cowboy stadium and i think they stalled for w.e reason because now arum has a different attitude compared to last time or maybe he just knows people will come after him if he dosnt make this fight happen cuz he dislikes mayweather
wHITE Gorilla.. You ended your with a ",".. and it sounds a bit incomplete.. Please complete the article Marley.. unless you were abducted by Abu Sayaf while trying to finish this one. Goodluck! I heard they use sharp bolos to cut the head. Im sure it will just sting a bit..
arum is just like marley. they don't fail in the comedy department.
i love you bob! may have u have more than a 100 years life on earth.
IF the fight won't happen you can blame Arum, Ellerbe, Haymon and Floyd Sr.(DAD) . Manny wants it. Floyd wants it. but these surrounding people make it difficult to do so because of their pride and ego,
Im not going to celebrate until both contracts are signed sealed and delivered...and yes if it's not Pacquiao vs Mayweather im switching to UFC and I mean that! Now how about those PPV numbers???
white gorilla marley, hows the dance w/ pacmom? u took her hand, dont u?
mayweather vs pacquiao..........NEVER HAPPEN..........SORRY GUYS..........NEVER,NEVER,NEVER,NEVER,NEVER,BECAUSE!.....................................I'LL WILL LET YOU KNOW.
at least if this fight happen it will be a big test for chickenfloyd
because this is a real big fight for him unlike his last fight that is really obviously scripted! and if this fight wont happen...blame it on chickenfloyd because he will still insist his childish demands wich is really nonesense in any point of view!
Jesus Christ, this fight is so big, even every movement of the wrist both boxers do when signing the contracts is reported, opined, debated, ha ha ha.
Its Impossible. It is not possible. Yes it is impossible. But what if Floy and Pac stage their fight here in the PH? imagine the amount of money that it will bring to our country.
(Flights-110% full) (Hotels 110% full) (Taxes) (Economy Upsurge) (Tourism will go crazy) (Foreign Investments)..... a lot more
The result of the Random drug/blood tests from Mosley vs Mayweather has come out.
Mosley had 6 blood tests while Mayweather had only 5. Which beggars belief that there is still discrepancies for what the ducker claims to have an equal 'playing' field.
Floyd the bully can't better his demands for fair drug tests yet he himself fell short of EQUAL random blood tests.
This unequal number of tests may have perhaps contributed to the poor performance of Mosley where he lost 'steam' and felt haggard - WEAK.
IN recollection, when Manny Pacquiao had his blood tests against Morales, the first batch was lost, hence they had to take another batch again (several vials). This caused Manny to feel weak and lost that initial fight against Morales.
What everyone should anticipate is for Shane Mosley to confirm or question why there was an unfair random blood tests compared with Mayweather's only 5!
down under he dosnt control how many times they test him so what are you saying 6 or 5 isnt going to make the diference stop crying
What a scoop!
Going to the philipinnes was brillant on marley
to think says: i agree with you, but the fighters wont make money, because its pesos n its not dollars..........it is pleasure to have the fight in the philippines but, it will never happen...
Manny can't beat floyd,mayweather is very talented n manny just a fighter.arum is cuming write he thought floyd won't beat mosley n now he don't hv a choice bt to face the man he hates with al his heart.the end of manny.
I never like you Mr. Marley. But going to my island Mindanao, Philippines is surely a positive dose for my heart.
Mabuhay ka Mr. Marley!
the boycott (Floyd vs Shane) was a success!
down under stop crying nobody beside manny things random blood test will weaken him and they didnt even take blood on fight night until after the fight so he was good he even said blood test and urine is great so stop crying
ynot it was???? they made 11mil at the gate and they will do over a million ppv which is great they havent counted all the ppv so that fake number of 1.2 wasnt true but even if it does do that ...its stil great so your boycott failed because nobody cared to boycott a good fight lol
To MR. BOB ARUM, WE FILIPINOS ARE VERY THANKFUL WITH ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT SAME TO MR. F. ROACH AND TO ALL TEAM PACQUIAO THAT YOU HELP MAKE MANNY TODAY THE GREATEST FIGHTER IN HISTORY. WE ALL PACFANS HAVE ONLY ONE WISH NOW,..TO MAKE NOVEMBER THE GREATEST FIGHT IN HISTORY OF BOXING. TO MAKE MANNY AND FLOYD MEET IN THE RING AND TO BEAT FLOYD IS EVERYBODYS DREAM WHICH ALL PAC FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD WANTED TO SEE. WE ARE HAPPY THEN AFTER THAT FIGHT IF MANNY WILL HANG UP HIS GLOVES FOR GOOD. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND TO MR MARLEY ,HAVE A PLEASANT STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES MORE POWER AND GOD BLESS.
if manny pacquiao cannot win against a member of the chiongbian political dynasty entrenched in that part of the philippines for ages, then who can.
it is very sad and poignant that while our industrialized neighbors are flying high, the filipinos are mired in poverty as depicted in your photo of tuk-tuks (tricycles) SITTING ON DIRT ROADS.
interestingly, many of those saranganians will still vote 4 chiongbian because they don't know better & they haven't seen better. & here's pacquiao campaigning as if his life depends on it just so he can serve & show the people that he can do a better job. i say give manny the chance and if he doesn't deliver, vote him out of office at the end of his term and bring back a chiongbian.
saranganians may not realize it but many filipinos r hoping manny will indeed deliver on his promises and will serve as a catalyst in finally moving d country forward that if you r a public official & not doing what pacquiao is doing YOU NEED TO GET THE HELL
i am with you on that attitude riotgirl88....
mr marley....well appreciated....welcome to our land.
saranganians may not realize it but many filipinos r hoping manny will indeed deliver on his promises and will serve as a catalyst in finally moving d country forward that if you r a public official & not doing what pacquiao is doing YOU NEED TO GET THE HELL OUT !!!!!
Do you think Mayweather has the courage to say this, " I will fight you anytime, anywhere, no conditions , no excuses."
Have a real nice stay/vacation, Mr. Marley.
thank you for visiting our country. arum and marley.
and marley, its not tuk tuks. tuk tuks are from thailand. we call it "tri-cycle"
mayweather vs mosley is a big stageplay directed by golden boy promotions to raise up mayweather's rating, and to have an edge in the future negotiations with bob arum for a pacman fight. In fact, the recent ratings released by Ring Magazine, which incidentally is owned by Oscar dela Hoya, reveals that Mayweather has taken the number one spot for the P4P ranking. It's questionable because Floyd hasn't beaten the number one yet, which is Pacman.. so how in the world can he be the number one when all he beat was a washed up number 3, which is oldie shane mosley!!!!
vote pacman for congress
I believe that every person act for there own benefits.
Arum, you can do it. Make it happen. I hope.
I think PACMAN will do great for the poor people of Sarangani!!!! VOTE FOR OUR NATIONAL TREASURE!!!!!!! Its your turn now Sarangani to help yourselves and help PACMAN. He deserves to WIN..........
Mayweather complains a lot about steroids. A little too much, actually. Makes you wonder... Could it be Gayweather is the one on steroids? Gayweather, shut the f@#k up and fight like a man.
Arum & Marley, thanks for supporting with manny & have a safe roaming in GenSan. Enjoy your trip and have more fun.
Enjoy your stay in the Philippines Marley. A little advice for you... Make sure to keep the dogs and cats off your dinner plate.
This is where Arum's veteran experience come into play. If anyone can make this fight happen (Manny-Mayweather) it's Arum. Good to know he works silently behind the scenes and not shouting in the press and the Internet about his plans.
If indeed Floyd beats Manny, so be it! I bet Manny will be fine with it. And we know the truth about who's the better boxer. Truth is liberating and peace-giving. That is, IF Floyd can take the heat from Manny. Either way, whoever wins, I'll celebrate.
Welcome to the Philippines Marley and Bob. Boy, you've got guts! In normal days those places you've been in Mindanao are already high risk areas. But during election season? They're even more dangerous!
Peace to you all.
you guys better take care of our good friends and guests, mr. marley and mr. arum while they are in our country. these two gentlemen travelled so many miles away and braved the unusually hot weather and humidity just to support our hero manny pacquiao
in his quest to become the representative of the people of sarangani. it's about time we have a change to end the suffering and neglect of saranganians brought about by the lousy leadership of the chiongbians who ruled for so long but nothing to show for. mabuhay si manny! mabuhay si marley at arum! mabuhay ang sarangani! mabuhay ang pilipinas!
boxing na lang dapat si pac!period!
Pacquiao did not take the test, but Chiongban is more than willing to take on him. How's that Floydie? ^_^
Hail to your effort Mr. Arum. You really take care of our natioanl treasure Manny Pacquiao. Pls enjoy yourself in Saranggani. I feel Manny could really pull a win this time.
Mr. Marley, I always read your column because you always write fascinating facts. However a stupid writer by the name of DAN WITZEL( is he a moron or just plain stupid) says something which has been the subject of debates for more than 6 months. I wonder if he's really a writer or just a monkey playing one. Could you at leaast enlighthen this dipstick on the things he writes...
If Manny will obey one of the Ten Commandments : HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.
In my eyes, he is a demi-god.
Many thanks Mr. Arum and Mr. Marley for being here for your support to our National Treasure.
BIG WELCOME TO MR. ARUM AND MR. MARLEY ENJOY YOUR STAY. GOD BLESS
BOB & MARLEY YOU'RE THE BEST.....
HI MIKE, I KNOW YOU'RE LOVING YOUR STAY IN GEN SAN... DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO GO HOME ANYMORE..LOL
That fight will be a dream fight between good and evil. That's what Floyd is always depicting or projecting of himself in his every fight,"The Villain".The world knows how Pacquiao effortlessly do his thing and reflecting himself in and out of the ring as a good nature person.To further these two contrasting fact,Floyd used to destroy his foe even before the fight in the ring get started (recall how mosley's private life was made into a hyping topic).In the contrary Pacquiao tried to help a down Diaz as if to to help him up, after knocking him down in an spontenaity of feeling then.Simple but very clear why the fight can be dubbed as the "The battle of the spirits".
One more ,if Pacquiao wins his congressional seat then that makes that a plus factor for the future fight between him and Floyd,will it be too much if Floyd try to get appointed as sport czar in cleaning the sport of boxing?Isn't it more meaningful all throughout?
Mike don't forget the balut, and the meeting with madam Auring. lols
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