By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, undoubtedly one of the most astute men in boxing, believes that Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao can held save the sport even though fighters like undefeated Joe Calzaghe claim that boxing is dying.
Arum said he was optimistic about “ a real chance to revive the sport as long as Manny (Pacquiao) is in the sport.” He said should Pacquiao continue fighting he would be “more optimistic than I’ve ever been before.”
Arum said “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya was the “standard bearer” for many years and his contribution can never be underestimated but added that he really believes Pacquiao can assume the mantle from the man he beat so badly last Saturday in Las Vegas.
Arum noted that even with the bad economy the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight drew around 1.4 million pay-per-view buys which one of the all-time highs.
At the same time he commended Pacquiao for his desire to help other fighters and people in general from the Philippines saying “if he was as big as his heart, he would be heavyweight champion of the world.”
Noting Pacquiao’s good manners and religiosity Arum said “I have never seen him sit down in a restaurant or any other place to eat without s saying a blessing. He has straightened out his life because he had some bad habits before. But now he’s grown up and overcome all that.”
