By Lem Satterfield
LAS VEGAS -- Top Rank Promotions' CEO Bob Arum called eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao "the greatest fighter I've ever seen," adding, "Nobody can compete with him. Nobody," this, after watching the Filipino super star pitch Saturday night's virtual shutout, unanimous decision over Shane Mosley in defense of his WBO welterweight belt at the MGM Grand Hotel.
The victory for Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 knockouts) over the 39-year-old Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KOs) was the 14th straight for the winner, whose previous wins included an eighth-round knockout of Oscar De La Hoya, a 12th-round knockout of Miguel Cotto, and consecutive unanimous decisions over Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito, all of whom are past of current world titlists.
Mosley had vowed to engage Pacquiao toe-to-toe, but failed to engage after being dropped for only the third time in his career thanks to a third-round left hook by Pacquiao.
"The problem is that this is becoming a pattern. Manny doesn't allow any opponent to fight his fight. He takes the opponent out of the fight because of his speed and because of his power," said Arum, who is 79 years old.
"Shane had no answer, but neither did Osacar De La Hoya and neither did Miguel Cotto. Neither did Antonio Margarito and neither did Joshua Clottey. Neither did anybody that he fights," said Arum. "You're watching a phenomenon. At least since I've been around for 45 years. He's the greatest fighter that I've ever seen. Nobody can compete with him. Nobody. He'll take every fighter out of his game plan."
In order, Arum listed his next preferred opponents for Pacquiao as being WBO and WBC lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, WBC and WBO junior welterweight king Tim Bradley and IBF junior welteweight titlist Zab Judah.
Marquez has battled Pacquiao to a draw and a split-decision loss, respectively.
"Marquez, if that fight happens, Marquez has given Manny problems in the past. But I think that Manny could take Marquez out of his gameplan now because he's a much better fighter," said Arum. "Same thing with Timothy Bradley. Same thing with Zab Judah. Same thing with anybody who is in the weight divisions where he fights."
Arum met with the 37-year-old Marquez on Saturday morning in his Las Vegas offices and presented him with a proposal that must then be reviewed by Golden Boy Promotions, which has the right to at least match the deal and retain Marquez as their fighter.
If not, Arum would then stage Pacquiao-Marquez III in Las Vegas on either Nov. 5 or Nov. 12.
"About two weeks ago, we sent an offer to Juan Manuel Marquez, assuming that Manny won, for the fight in November. There were certain items in that offer that Juan Manuel wanted changed. So he never sent the offer to Golden Boy Promotions," said Arum.
"We sent a copy. But Juan Manuel Marquez never sent it, because he wasn't satisfied with the offer. Monday, we're going to send him a revised offer based on our conversations with him this morning," said Arum. "Golden Boy has a right to match. I don't think that they will, and if they don't match, then we'll fight Juan Manuel Marquez in November. If they match, and he's not available, then we'll look to fight either Timothy Bradley or Zab Judah."