By Chris Robinson

After getting a few updates on Manny Pacquiao’s training camp from promoter Bob Arum on Wednesday afternoon, I continued our conversation by getting his thoughts on some other key fighters in the Top Rank fold as well as looking at some upcoming events he is staging.

Arum has a pair of shows in December in back to back weekends when Pacquiao’s fourth pay-per-view encounter with Juan Manuel Marquez goes down inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on the 8th while unified junior featherweight champion Nonito Donaire faces the fan-friendly style of former champion Jorge Arce in Houston, Texas one weekend later.

Arum took a look at each card, including the undercard for Pacquiao-Marquez IV as well as speaking on the impending announcement of Donaire-Arce. The veteran Hall of Famer also revealed the latest with WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, former lightweight titlist Brandon Rios, former two-division champion Juan Manuel Lopez, and former middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik.

This is what Arum had to share…

Putting Yuriorkis Gamboa on the Pacquiao-Marquez IV undercard after releasing him from Top Rank earlier this year…
“Everything worked out OK with the Gamboa situation. He got a release from us, they paid for it. Todd [duBoef] has a good relationship with Gamboa’s promoter now, 50 Cent. So why not? Gamboa’s still an attraction and we have him matched really tough on the card, so it should be a good fight."

Lightweight contender Mercito Gesta’s challenge of IBF champion Miguel Vazquez on the Pacquiao-Marquez IV bill…
“Vazquez, as you know, is an incredible boxer, a very good defensive fighter; but he doesn’t run, you know what I mean? He just makes you miss and everything. And Gesta is a pressure fighter, so it should be an interesting match.”

Getting ready to announce Nonito Donaire vs. Jorge Arce for Dec. 15…
“Well, that certainly looks like it’s coming into play. And we still have to get contracts back. We’ll have an announcement shortly and hopefully a press conference in Houston next week.”

Happy to see Donaire staying busy with four fights in 2012…
“Absolutely, that’s what these young guys should do. They should fight more than less. I mean, the idea that they fight twice is absurd and Nonito wants the action. We’re going to use him next year as many fights as we can. Why not?”

Tim Bradley’s future…
“We’re going to work things out with Bradley. I think that Todd is going to meet with him, so we’re optimistic that we can get him back in the ring first quarter of next year.”

Brandon Rios vs. Ruslan Provodnikov ordered by the WBO despite rumors of a Pacquiao fight for Rios this coming April…
“Obviously, we have to respect what Rios wants. If Rios has the opportunity to fight Pacquiao, why would he take another fight like that before that? But I haven’t talked to Pacquiao about the fight. If the Pacquiao fight is not going to happen, than that’s a terrific fight, Rios against Provodnikov.”

Thoughts on Juan Manuel Lopez’s suspension being lifted by the WBO and future plans for the Puerto Rican star…
“We’re going to use him sometime in December, or Peter Rivera [will] use him. And then we’re trying to make a Lopez-[Wilfredo] Vazquez fight in February for Puerto Rico.”

The possibility of Kelly Pavlik vs. super middleweight king Andre Ward in 2013…
“I’d love to make that fight, I know Pavlik would. We’re talking with Dan [Goosen] about putting that fight together.”

Tags: Bob Arum