By Michael Marley
Nobody milks a cash cow like Bob Arum. And, with Manny Pacquiao likely hitting the 1.4 milllion mark for his PPV TV bout against Antonio Margarito, Arum finds himself in a position of udder delight, as we say around the barnyard.
For his part, Pacquiao may wind up with a cool $25 million when all the revenue is added up or about half of what he would take after a super bout against Floyd Mayweather.
It’s worth noting that, while Pacquaio’s two bout agenda for May and November of 2011 is wide open, it is the Mayweather clan, fighter Floyd and uncle-trainer Roger, who are on the criminal case docket in Las Vegas.
Floyd won’t be going to the slammer, as I keep telling you. He will get a domestic batterer’s program and pay some fine.
Uncle Roger, who was seen by arriving police choking out female boxer Melissa St. Vil, does seem bound for another stint in the hoosegow.
So, in all ways, it is Arum and Pacman who are in the driver’s seat as far as making or not making Floyd-Manny for either May or November.
No matter what anyone says, after giving up 17 pounds and 4 /12 inches in height to bruiser Margarito, Pacquiao deserves a fight that is not as mentally or physically draining as was the Margarito rumble.
Great champions do this all the time. Think of heavyweight champ Larry Holmes picking on a Lorenzo Zanon or “What’s It All About” Alfie Evangelista, or Muhammad Ali facing the Brian Londons and Jean Pierre Coopman type no hopers.
More relevantly, think of Mayweather picking on a relative midget, Pacman nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.
There is nothing to criticize if Pacquiao fights Juan Ma in a rubber match or lets Sugar Shane Mosley get his final, big payday next May.
Pacman fights are events and he’ll do the same or better PPV numbers against either the Mexican counterpuncher of Ole Man Mosley as he did with Margarito.
Outside of Mayweather, any Pacquiao foe has become essentially the opening act or the “B side” guy.
Sure, Pacquiao will have a relatively easy time against Mosley but Juan Ma’s unique style will always pose problems though he can’t beat Manny, no way, no how.
Sue me, curse me, excorciate me if you must.
But I say Pacquiao has earned a softer touch than Mayweather.
The Super Bowl champion doesn’t play every game against the runner up, do they?
The Yankees do not have to play the Texas Rangers every regular season game, either.
Let Manny’s next fight be a “regular season fight,” sort of a live scrimmage.
Then the Boxing Super Bowl can come next.