Bob Arum
WHY ARUM DOESN’T WANT THE FIGHT?
San Francisco, CA– When Floyd Patterson was heavyweight champ back in the late 50s & early 60s, the big fight for many a moon for Floyd was a match with Sonny Liston. But Cus D’Amato, Patterson’s manager, wanted no part of Liston for two reasons. The first being Sonny’s ties to the Mob. But the more important factor was that Cus knew that the 215 lb. fighter from St. Louis would mop the floor with Patterson, who at 190 or so, was an Olympian in 1952 at 165 lbs.
PATTERSON DID NOT CATCH WELL
The “peek a boo” style utilized by Patterson was designed by Cus to protect the not so solid Patterson chin. D’Amato would later invoke this style on Jose Torres and Mike Tyson, perhaps not for the same reason. Besides fighting Ingamar Johanson thrice, and an old Archie Moore, the guys Floyd fought were, and I’m being kind, stiffs!
ARUM IN THE CUS D’AMATO MODE OF OPERATION?
In all accounts, Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao’s promoter is the person impeding a fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Look, nobody is expecting Floyd to destroy the Pacman as Sonny did to Patterson. But most are of the opinion that Floyd Mayweather beats Manny Pacquiao both easily and soundly. That being said, and it’s been stated before, Bob Arum knows the risk of fighting Mayweater, that it far outweighs the monies involved.
WHO DOES FLOYD FIGHT NOW WITH PAC OUT?
With Mayweather-Pacquiao dead in the water for this May, reports are that Floyd will instead face WBC 154 lb. champ Saul Alvarez, or Robert Guerrero the best lightweight/jr. welterweight in the world.
PAC ALLOWING HIS LEGACY TO BE “TAINTED”
Look, I know that dealing with Floyd Mayweather’s team of advsors can be excruciating. I also know unless Arum is given a significant role in the promotion, his ego won’t allow it to happen. Unless Pacquiao puts his foot down and tells Bob what time it is, the fight probably won’t happen, not in May or November, not ever! In the end, it’ll be Pacquiao being hounded for the rest of his life with the question, “Why didn’t you fight Floyd Mayweather?”
Pedro Fernandez