Arum still cool on Pacman-Bradley rematch despite WBO recommendation

source: gmanetwork.com

Despite a WBO review that saw a five-man international panel declare Manny Pacquiao the winner over Timothy Bradley and recommend a rematch Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time), the promoter of both boxers, Bob Arum of Top Rank, is still cool to the idea of a second bout between the two fighters.

In the review, Pacquiao won by scores of 117-111, 117-111, 118-110, 116-112, and 115-113.

Arum told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports that when he meets with Pacquiao to discuss his scheduled November 10 (Nov. 11, PHL time) HBO bout, he would "make certain he [Pacquiao] understands all the ramifications and if he is aware of what the public's perception is [of a rematch].

"I would have to have, if I were going to do a rematch, an investigation, which is ongoing with the attorney general's office, to clarify the situation."

After Pacquiao lost via split-decision last June 9 (June 10, PHL time), 113-115, 113-115, 115-113, Arum immediately sought an investigation into the results of the fight with the Nevada State attorney general's office. While that organization has not responded to his calls for an inquest, the Nevada State Athletic Commission eventually gave in to Arum's request for a review, in addition to the WBO's own second-look.

Two prominent US senators have also called for the formation of a national boxing commission to oversee the sport.

Arum added, "If it was simply the incompetence of the judges and a simple mistake, period, which is what you and I suspect, and they determine there is no wrongdoing, that's easy to remedy. All we do is have a rematch with different judges. Absent that, given all this suspicion, no matter how unwarranted, it would be hard to do a rematch.

"Half of these websites are saying that the promoter is the one who did this, and that I talked to these judges. I had nothing whatsoever to do with picking them and never talked to them."

Other possibilities for Pacquiao's next fight included a fourth battle with Juan Manuel Marquez. Arum also brought up the possibility of the long-awaited bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but cautioned, "if we could work that [the pay structure] out."

Still, Arum hopes that in future fights, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and other boxing organizations, consider using judges from around the world, as well as younger judges.

"Of course age is a factor in performance and Exhibit A is myself," the 81-year-old Arum said. "I don't think any people past a certain age are able to do that [judge a fight], and I mean nothing against them....I couldn't trust myself to concentrate that hard for that long."

Arum originally told the Los Angeles Times that "the [ticket] brokers are telling us if we make a Bradley rematch, no one will go," due to the bout's controversial result.
source: gmanetwork.com