Bob Arum: Cotto brings with him a huge fan base from Puerto Rico – Boxing News
Top Rank’s Bob Arum will be on his way to meet former WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. While Arum is hoping Pacquiao to succumb to a rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez, the Filipino pride is eyeing a rematch against Timothy Bradley.
After a controversial split decision loss to Timothy Bradley on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Pacquiao find it compelling to lock horns with Bradley once again to get back his title. However, Bob Arum believes it would be better for Pacquiao to face
Marquez for a fourth time this fall, and then go for a rematch against Bradley.
According to Arum, it is not wise for Pacquiao to go for a showdown against Bradley so soon, considering the fact that fans are already booing Bradley for whatever happened on June 9.
Arum, in an interview with ESPN.com, also hinted towards the possibility of Pacquiao facing Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
“Cotto brings with him a huge fan base from Puerto Rico and Marquez also has a big fan base with the Hispanics fans,” said Arum.
While talking about why he wants Marquez against Pacquiao instead of Bradley, the Hall of Famer promoter claimed, “Marquez did 400,000 buys more than Bradley. That fight did a little better than 900,000, so I have to consider that. And Marquez is very anxious
for the fight, too. With Bradley, the general sports fan, at least anecdotally, wants them to have a rematch. People I go out to dinner with or people I visit with, they all talk about the rematch with Bradley, not a fourth fight with Marquez -- but they aren't
Hispanics. The Hispanic fans are the ones who want the fourth fight with Marquez.”
Pacquiao currently stands with 54 wins, 4 losses, 2 ties and 38 knockouts in his portfolio. He is among the top ranked fighters of today. In the welterweight division, even though he is not the champion anymore, he is still ranked as the king of the division,
along with WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Arum is hoping a huge sell-out when Pacquiao enters the ring on November 10. Probably, this is the reason as to why the Hall of Famer promoter wants Pacquiao to face Marquez instead of Bradley.
Tags: