By Ryan Burton

BoxingScene.com.com and other members of the media held an informal Q&A session with legendary promoter Bob Arum.  Some of the topics included Arum's ability to promote Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto without showing favortism towards either fighter, Manny's run at politics, and what happens to each fighter in the aftermath of Saturday's big fight.

Mexican Media:  How do you compare Manny to another fighter you promoted, Julio Cesar Chavez?

Bob Arum:  Well Manny doesn't just have the boxing press writing about him.  He has the world press writing about him as if he is a personality on the world stage.  Chavez on the other hand was a fighter.  A great fighter but nobody wrote about him other than about him being a fighter.  Its different with Manny.

Mexican Media:  Vegas used to be a Chavez town.  Is it still his town or is it officially Manny's town now?

Bob Arum:  Chavez is yesterday's news.  Chavez was a great fighter and he had his time on the stage but now he is off the stage.  Hopefully his son will come back to dominate the stage. We will see.  Chavez made a great contribution but like Sugar Ray Leonard and Hagler, they had their day and they go off the stage and a new act comes up.

Mexican Media:  You said Manny will most likely fight in March.  Do you have an exact date?

Bob Arum:  I have to talk to Manny after this fight.  Assuming he wins the fight then we need to see with his political career.  Does he have to stop to campaign or will he just run on the party's ticket.  In that case he doesn't have to campaign very much.  I have to sort all of that out.  I really do.  Right now I know if he runs in his congressional district he won't be able to fight after the middle of March.

BoxingScene.com:  If he wins a seat in office is his boxing career finished or is he going to do both?

Bob Arum:  Yes he will definitely continue fighting.  Win or lose the fight or election he will continue fighting.  Will it be in March?  It absolutely depends on how he feels and so forth.  This fight with Cotto is no walk in the park.  Both men are going to take some real punishment and I don't know if you can turn it around and fight so quick and be in the gym in January for a March fight.  I don't know if thats possible.

BoxingScene.com:  What are the chances his next fight is with Juan Manuel Marquez?

Bob Arum:  That is very possible.  That is a good option.  I know that Manny has told me that he wants to eliminate any doubt with that fight and you know know something, Marquez looked terrible with Mayweather but Marquez and Mayweather was never going to be a real fight.

Marquez can't fight a guy who is a defensive fighter.  Marquez is a counterpuncher so he needs an aggressive guy.  That is why he and Manny is always going to be a competitive fight.  That is how Ali could beat George Foreman and knock George Foreman out and Foreman would kill Ken Norton anytime they fought and Norton always gave Ali a tough fight.

BoxingScene.com:  What do you think of Pacquiao and Mayweather fighting?

Bob Arum:  Pacquiao and Mayweather, I don't know how competitive it would be, but it would certainly be a fight that would be interesting. The people talk about it and it would be a very very interesting fight no question.  Whether it would be competitive or not its not for me to say.  If and when they fought we would see how it comes out.

BoxingScene.com:  If Cotto wins this fight, Pacquiao isn't really tarnished since he is moving up in weight.  Do you think a victory will take Cotto to another level where he isn't just a big star in Puerto Rico and amongst Puerto Ricans but becomes a cross over star?

Bob Arum:  I hope that whatever happens with the winner and loser that we really have two winners and each guy has been enhanced by this fight.  I hope that each guy is bigger than he was before this fight.

Whether that comes about I don't know but I hope it is the case.

US Media:  Does that mean there could be a rematch?

Bob Arum:  Yes that is a possiblity but it is silly to think of that right now.  We need the fight to play out first.  What happens if there is a first round knockout?

British Media:  Then Freddy cashes his ticket (laughing)!

Bob Arum:  Who said that for sure it is Manny the one scoring the knockout?

British Media:  How has Manny changed over the years?

Bob Arum:  He has matured as a person obviously.  Here is a guy who essentially came from a third world country and he has become a world figure.  He knows how to handle himself.  He knows how to deal with you guys.  He can deal with states people.  People told me that he handled himself well when he met president Clinton after his last fight.  Well 4 or 5 years ago that wouldn't have been possible.

British Media:  People talk about Manny keeping his speed but they don't mention his power.  He has held his power at higher weights.

That seems to be a key.

Bob Arum:  I think that is absolutely correct.  Speed is one thing but he has the power too.  Manny, unlike Cotto who throws thunderous punches, has explosive punches.  They explode at you and they come in bunches.  Listen to what De la Hoya said, finally after he calmed down.  He said Manny was so fast and he threw so many punches I didn't know where they were coming from and it just overwhelmed him.  Manny is a hell of a puncher.  When he started with me it was all about his left hand.  He hits as hard now with the right hand as the left.

BoxingScene.com:  Bob, how do you go about promoting both fighters?

Bob Arum:  You act completely neutral.  You give each guy every possible advantage.  Everything.  Whatever they want to train. Whatever they want within reason you give them.  You demonstrate to them that you are for them but you are also for the other guy.  We know there is going to be a winner and a loser but hopefully both guys are enhanced by the fight, win or lose.

BoxingScene.com:  What are you going to feel once the punches start flying?

Bob Arum:  Don't even go there (laughing).