COMMENTARY: Is Bob Arum keeping Pacquiao from fighting Mayweather?

After weeks of rigorous negotiations, it still remains to be seen if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather can finally agree to fight in what would be the most lucrative bout in boxing history.

 

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank has been a subject of scrutiny of late, mainly because of his public pronouncements about the real status of the negotiations.

 

Three days ago, Arum told the Associated Press that rival networks HBO and Showtime have already hammered out a deal, only to be rebuffed by denials from both of the American broadcast giants.

 

While both camps have agreed to refrain from talking about the negotiations, Arum has been on a steady media frenzy.

 

This is even as Showtime Sports executive vice president and general manager Stephen Espinoza told New York Daily News a couple of days ago that negotiations are "down to the last handful of small issues."

 

A Yahoo Sports source expressed dismay over how Arum has conducted himself.

 

"Believe me, if this fight doesn't get done, it will be because of Bob Arum. Nobody can figure what he is doing or why he is doing it."

 

Which begs the question: Could Bob Arum be keeping Pacquiao from fighting Mayweather?

 

A source close to the situation told GMA News Online that as early as last November, before the latest round of negotiations for a Mayweather fight, Arum had already lined up unbeaten WBA world light welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (26-0, 9KOs) to fight Pacquiao.

 

The same source also said that a contract to fight Pacquiao, amounting to seven figures, has already been presented to Vargas' manager Cameron Dunkin.

 

In the past, people have pointed the finger at Arum as a hurdle to a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. 

 

Longtime Pacquiao lawyer Jeng Gacal had previously pleaded for Arum to release the Filipino from his contract, knowing that the much-awaited showdown will likely never materialize if Arum continues to be involved.

 

Mayweather, for his part, said he had offered Arum a handsome fee of $10 million just to step aside while fighters hammered out a deal themselves.

 

But why would Arum want Pacquiao to fight a relative unknown in Vargas, instead of facing Mayweather in what could be the most lucrative match of all time?

 

There are constant whispers about an alleged deal that the promoter recently landed with the Venetian Macao, the site of two of Pacquiao's last three fights. Fighting in the Asian sin city could mean a multi-million guarantee for the promotion, and a Pacquiao-Vargas fight, which involves two Top Rank fighters, would keep all the profits in-house.

 

Which makes another GMA News Online source wonder: Could this be the reason why, as recently as this Friday, Pacquiao's trusted adviser Michael Koncz was still reaching out to investors to discuss a Pacquiao-Vargas fight, even though everyone is saying that a Mayweather deal is imminent?

 

Then again, everyone recently acknowledged that there are good developments happening, and negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight are heading toward the right direction. For all we know, the announcement for the long-awaited superfight may just be around the corner.

 

Until then, however, everything Arum says should be taken with a grain of salt. At least until the official announcement of Manny Pacquiao's next fight. —JST, GMA News

 

JM Siasat is a sports journalist based in Manila, Philippines. He can be reached at jmsiasat@ymail.com. Follow him on Twitter @jmsiasat