By James Blears

Veteran Promoter Bob Arum was in Mexico cut through the pre-Christmas smog in high altitude Mexico City with some very candid views on upcoming fights, and other issues.

Firstly he announced the much anticipated fight between Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah, is shaping up for April 8th at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Mr Arum sang the Pretty Boy’s praises:

“Floyd has a talent which is breathtaking. He reminds me of Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali as a young man and Sugar Ray Leonard. He is really a tremendous fighter, with great reflexes and knows and understands boxing.”
 
But then when I asked him why he wasn’t a superstar like them, Mr Arum shot back:

“He’s his own worst enemy. If he had been in a different era, before a lot of this hip hop and rap kinduva thing he would be a lot more popular.

“This fight against Zab Judah won’t be easy. And they go back a long way as kids. But I would say Mayweather would have to be the favourite. Absolutely!”

Next it was on to the Jose Luis Castillo V Diego Chico Corrales rubber match on February 4th in El Paso.

The Arum predicted that Chico would probably again abandon boxing skills and reach advantages to go into the trenches and stick his head above the parapet in a close range war.

He insisted: “Corrales can’t beat Castillo slugging with him. Castillo has proved that. But Corrales is a very proud guy and he may go in thinking he’s going to box and he ends up a warrior. It’ll be a great fight, but I think my guy Castillo’s going to win.”
The next mouth watering clash is the much anticipated rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales also at the Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas on January 21st.

Mr Arum mentioned the cut Manny suffered from the early accidental clash of heads in fight one was a hampering factor. But he also stressed other equally serious problems…like….”I think the fact that he was distracted. He was fighting with his promoter, and he had all these Filipinos visiting him in his hotel room when he should have been rested. I think you’ll see a lot better Manny Pacquiao this time.

“I think its going to be a great fight. It was a terrific fight last time. It should be even better this time.”

And in the heart of WBC country Mr Arum had some  choice toe curling words for Don Jose Sulaiman, who was not present at the function in Mexico City’s Four Seasons Hotel. 

When asked about the January 31st Night of the Champions in the International vacation resort of Cancun,  Mr Arum responded with a curt “No comment.”
 
Concerning the recent WBC Board of Governors vote to have a purse allocation of 60 percent for Heavyweight Champion Hasim Rahman and  40 percent for challenger between James Toney, Mr Arum said of Don Jose:

“What he did was in this heavyweight situation is just beyond despicable. And the only person he would do it for is Don King.

“Whatever King wants, King gets. Mayorga getting the title fight. That was ludicrous.”

And then Mr Arum assessed the heavyweight scene. Hasim Rahman is now with Top Rank, after a dispute with Mr King. Several of the top fighters have also been in contract with Mr King. But Mr Arum observed:

“Chris Byrd is in court looking to break his contract, Klitschko is not with King. Lamon Brewster’s contract runs out early next year. Mr King is going to end up with one champion- Ruiz- who he can have.”