by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is in New York to undertake what he described as “a massive fund raising in the United States spearheaded by US Senate majority leader Harry Reid who is a good friend of Manny Pacquiao.”
Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard the plan is to “raise funds for the construction of homes” in the area devastated by super typhoon Yolanda, international code name Haiyan and “to do really important things now that the relief effort has taken hold and people have food to eat.”
He said “now the big effort begins to rebuild the area.”
Arum said they are talking about Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Washington and New York. He said they are also considering Singapore but pointed out that “these things take a lot of effort and a lot of personnel. I think it will be a grear idea to do it in Singapore but I’ve got to get the people to do it.”
Pacquiao campaigned for Senator Reid at a huge final rally in Las Vegas and appealed to Fil-American voters to support the Democratic senator who eventually won re-election which was credited in part to Pacquiao's efforts.
Arum, the Top Rank promoter who steered Pacquiao’s career to remarkable heights which earned for him the accolade of “Fighter of the Decade” aside from being an eight division world champion told the Standard that the planned April 12 fight of Pacquiao would push through against one of three possible opponents – Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez or Ruslan Provodnikov, the former sparring partner of Pacquiao.
Arum told us he is waiting to discuss the options with Pacquiao who returned to General Santos City on Tuesday after a swing through the devastated regions of Samar and Leyte, handing out gift packs, money and bibles and providing inspiration to the people and urging them to fight to recover from their shattered lives.
He said “tomorrow (Thursday, Manila Time) I will reach out to him to find out" his preference. Bradley had beaten Pacquiao in a split decision that drew worldwide condemnation while Marquez recovered from a battering and on the verge of being knocked out when he connected with a vicious counter right hand when Pacquiao got careless and was himself knocked out with one second remaining in the sixth round.
The original plan was to stage the fight at Mandalay Bay because the MGM Grand was booked for a concert by Billy Joel but since he had cancelled the event they have taken the April 12 date at MGM Grand.