BAGUIO CITY
, Philippines – Bob Arum did not like what he saw at the gym.
“When I watched Manny on Saturday, I didn’t see the kind of speed that he would need to beat Margarito,” said Arum yesterday before Pacquiao held a media workout at the Shape Up Gym.Arum flew in three days ago and will fly out on Thursday. He said he’s hoping that Pacquiao puts a little more focus on the fight because if the fight were held this week he’d certainly lose.
“If the fight happened on Saturday Margarito would win the fight,” he said.
The 78-year-old chief of Top Rank Promotions called it the way he saw it but said he doesn’t plan to sit down with the pound-for-pound champion because it’s not really his job to deliver the pep talk.
“It’s not my place to stand in between the trainer and the fighter. But he’s got to focus and stop all these non-sense. But if Freddie (Roach) needs my help I’d be happy to do it,” said Arum.
Of course, he’s not blind to all the reports coming out that Pacquiao seemed to be taking things lightly, skipping road work and staying out of the gym, and playing too much basketball.
Sunday evening, Pacquiao was holed up in one of the function rooms of his hotel, rehearsing the songs he would sing at the after-fight concert in Arlington, Texas on Nov. 13.
It looks like Margarito, the bigger fighter, is doing everything Pacquiao is not.
“Antonio Margarito is a very focused fighter. With all the problems he has had, he knows that if he wins this fight then sky’s the limit. He’s got no problems at all getting focused,” said Arum.
“He’s done everything possible for him to be ready physically and mentally,” said Arum of Margarito, also a Top Rank fighter.
Arum said when he arrived in Manila, he placed a call to his office in Las Vegas and got hold of his matchmaker, Bruce Trampler, who had just been with Margarito in his training camp in Oxnard, California.
“Bruce said he was tremendous when he sparred 12 rounds with four different partners,” said the Top Rank chief, adding that should Margarito win this one, then everything turns gold.
“He knows that if he beats Pacquiao then sky is the limit,” said Arum.
He said he has no problem with Pacquiao training in Baguio.
“I never interfere with where a fighter should train. That’s between Manny and Freddie. I think training in Baguio is okay but I think I would have been happier if Manny has left last Saturday to go to Los Angeles instead of this Saturday.”
Arum is definitely not giving up on Pacquiao.
“Can he win this fight?” he was asked.
“Absolutely, he has plenty of time to get into shape and be the old Manny Pacquiao. And if he’s the old Manny Pacquiao he’s too fast and too talented to get beaten by Margarito.
“But this Manny Pacquiao is not enough. That’s all,” Arum said.
Source: philstar.com
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