Arum: Pacquiao doesn’t need KO to impress

Manny Pacquiao after the official weigh in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao need not knock Timothy Bradley out to be impressive Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

All the Filipino ring icon must do is dominate Bradley in the same manner that he demolished Chris Algieri, according to Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

“There’s no need for that (knockout),” said Arum. “If he can stagger Bradley or put him down several times like what he did to Algieri, then that’s impressive.”

If that happens, Arum is ready to begin the long road to convincing Pacquiao to put off his retirement plans or at least consider a comeback next year.

Arum, who initially was adamant that Pacquiao wouldn’t retire after the Bradley fight, started hedging on his belief Friday.

“I can feel that he is really serious about retirement,” Arum told Manila-based sportswriters in an interview at the press center of Pacquiao-Bradley III at MGM Grand Garden.

“There’s no more hunger and he is focused on what he’s going to do for his country and family after leaving boxing.”
“If before he was joking as to who he wants to fight next, he’s not mentioning anything to me now,” added the 84-year-old Arum.

If Pacquiao succeeds against Bradley and Arum can convince the Filipino champion to fight on, the promoter insists the next bout should be against a top-tier opponent like the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in April next year.

“There’s no ordinary Pacquiao fight if ever, it should be against Mayweather.”

Arum is holding hope that a resounding win by Pacquiao will catch Mayweather’s attention and lure the unbeaten American to come out of retirement.

“A grudge rematch between the most recognizable fighters of their generation should be huge,” said Arum, a Harvard-educated lawyer who’s been involved in boxing for 50 years.

Mayweather-Pacquiao shattered several boxing records, including the pay-per-view buys (4.5 million) and live gate receipts ($72 million), last May 2 and if the second edition did half as well, then Arum would be happy.

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