By Jake Donovan
Following the big win by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (34-0-1, 27 KOs), who stopped Ray Sanchez (20-2, 15 KOs) in the sixth-round at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, BoxingScene.com caught up with Top Rank head Bob Arum to talk about Chavez Jr, Jorge Arce, and the ongoing rumors of a potential super-fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao for September 08. Arum holds nothing back when voicing his feelings on the constant struggle between promoters and the cable networks.
BoxingScene.com: Your thoughts on the event and Julio Cesar Chavez's performance tonight?
Bob Arum: It's really great when you are promoting a kid for these few years, who's had no professional background, no amateur background and he's coming along. This (Ray Sanchez) was his biggest fight. He came through. He answered a lot of questions. He has a good chin, a lot of balls. He kept his composure and he's going to be a future champion - I have no doubt. There is greatness written all over him.
BoxingScene.com: Which direction do you take him in? Keep him active or look for the more quality fights?
Bob Arum: Keep him active. We are not going to look for handouts from Showtime or even HBO. Showtime from what I understand, has the candidate for the worst show on tonight (Tarver-Santiago). Typical. Listen, they keep listening to Gary Shaw and that will be their demise. Julio will be back in the ring in January. We are going to do our own pay-per-view show with him because we are not waiting on anyone for a date. If you want to get on the Julio express, call us up and you take his fights when we ask you to. If not, good luck, we will do it ourselves.
BoxingScene.com: How rewarding is it for you to put on a pay-per-view by yourself, while other promoters are waiting for handouts from Showtime and HBO?
Bob Arum: Unless boxing goes back under the control of the promoters, it's going to die. There are promoters out there who do not look for handouts, who look to promote shows. Don King, God love him, is one. Kathy Duva is another one. And certainly Top Rank is a third. There are promoters out there who will do their own shows and don't wait for handouts from the two networks. Well, the rest of them can line up on sixth avenue, whether it's Showtime or HBO, with their little tin cups and wait for someone to put money in it.
BoxingScene.com: Let's talk about Jorge Arce for a minute. The last time out he looked sluggish, winning by sixth-round knockout in September. Tonight he looked fantastic. You thoughts on his win.
Bob Arum: Yeah. Absolutely. You can't have a great night in every performance.
BoxingScene.com: Where does Jorge go from here? I know the big rumor is Martin Castillo.
Bob Arum: We are talking about a Castillo fight. We might do that fight. We probably will in January on the Julio Chavez card. Chavez, he might fight (Carlos) Baldomir. A step up, good fight. We are not going to rush him. We are not looking for a Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto or even an Oscar De La Hoya.
BoxingScene.com: With Manny Pacquiao, the rumors keep coming out with a fight against Oscar De La Hoya. Do you want to squash them or?
Bob Arum: I give Pacquiao a shot with Oscar. Oscar laughed, but now everybody is seriously considering it. But you know, Manny has to beat (Juan Manuel) Marquez and then probably another fight with (WBC lightweight) David Diaz and then if Oscar for his farewell fight, wants to take on Manny - that would be a huge, huge fight. Listen, I go back a long, long way. Not like these young guys. I remember when all of these lighter weight fighters going to take challenges in (higher) divisions. Ray Robinson fighting for the light heavyweight title. Henry Armstrong, a lightweight fighting for the middleweight title. It's not unusual. It wasn’t then, maybe it is now. Maybe we can bring it back, but believe me, Manny Pacquiao will acquit himself very well with Oscar De La Hoya.
