By Michael Marley
Bob Arum is more the hard-charging dynamo type than he is the thoughtful, contemplative and philosophical sort. Still, in his 79th year of living and in his fifth decade of promoting world championship, I found Uncle Bob to be enthusiastic and pragmatic on the event of yet another long flight from Las Vegas to Manila.
"I'm a double digit guy in terms of flights to the Philippines to check up on Manny Pacquiao by now," the Head Honcho of Top Rank said by phone on Friday. "Last year, I went over there four times, to two training camps, for his Congressional election and then in December for Manny's birthday. This is my first trip for this year but there will be more."
Arum, who promotes Sugar Shane Mosley-Pacquiao on pay-per-view TV on May 7 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Vegas, said he will not have time to attend Friday night's big boxing soiree in Manila, the "Flash Elorde Awards" ceremony and dinner at the Sofitel Hotel. Arum will go to see Pacman in Bagui and fly back Thursday to Vegas in time for a Junior League event where his wife, Lovee, is being honored for charity work.
