Here's a follow-up to the Pacquiao vs De la Hoya possible said Roach, Transcript post. Sports Chat this time talk to Pacquiao's promoter, Bob arum. Here's the transcript of that talk:


Dennis Principe: All right, here we go ladies and gentlemen. Live, both, Mr. Ronnie Nathanielsz from Cebu and of course we would like to welcome the Hall of Fame promoter Mr. Bob Arum from his place in Las Vegas. Sir, good morning and welcome to Philippine radio.

Bob Arum: Good. Nice to be on. We're here in Las Vegas. We're all excited for Cotto Margarito tiff that takes place next week. The interest is tremendous in that fight.

Dennis Principe: And sir, we would like to talk about that later on in our program. But I hope you don't mind, we really don't like to be spoilers here but, yesterday me and Mr. Ronnie, here in our show, we are able to talk to Freddie. He was in most interesting mood by not only saying that Manny should fight Oscar, but he also believes that Manny can knock Oscar out. However, we know that it's wheeling and dealing time and this is your turf as promoter. May we ask your reaction sir about Freddie's opinion yesterday?

Bob Arum: Let's be very practical about it. At this particular point, Oscar De La Hoya has one more fight left in his illustrious career and that's December the 6th. And seeing what's available, as I understand it, based on my discussion with the De La Hoya people, there are four possible candidates.

One is Floyd Mayweather, who has you know retired, and so I don't think he's a real candidate. Second is Felix Trinidad, who I don't beleive is a real candidate, I guess because Oscar would have to fight him at a very, very high weight right now, 175 lbs. and Trinidad doesn't seems anxious to get back in the ring.

So that leaves two fighters, for Oscar to fight on December 6th. I beleive he said he doesn't want to fight another Mexican, so that leaves Miguel Cotto who's fighting next week against Antonio Margarito, and Manny Pacquiao.

The decision that has to be made by Manny Pacquiao is number 1, that is he has to decide if he wants to fight, whether Manny feels that it's a winnable fight, because Oscar is bigger. And secondly, whether the financial remunerations are appropriate.

How luckily, Manny is coming to Las Vegas for the Cotto fight, next week, will be arriving on Friday and he's coming with Jeng Gacal, his lawyer. We will sit and discuss all of Manny's options on November and December, and that includes Valero, includes Soto, and includes the possibility of an Oscar fight.

Dennis Principe: Allright, Mr. Ronnie, would you like to...

Ronnie Nathanielsz: Yeah, I agree with you Mr. Arum, and I think I told Freddie that Oscar De La Hoya is too big for Manny Pacquiao, and I don't think that Oscar De La Hoya would be willing to come down to 147 lbs. to fight Pacquiao.

Bob Arum: Well, I don't think that would be a problem, as far as Oscar coming down to 147 lbs.

Ronnie Nathanielsz: You don't think so?

Bob Arum: No, not based on my preliminary discussion. That wouldn't be a problem, in other words, if he fought Cotto of if he fought Pacquiao, he would do it at welterweight.

Dennis Principe: Yes, sir. So does that mean, that there's a chance that fight may happen?

Bob Arum: Yes, of course, there is. But, you know, until I sit with Manny and Jeng and find out Manny's financial demand, and find out what percentage of the revenue we can get from the De La Hoya Pacquiao fight, everything is premature.

The point is we're not discarding other options as this whole process goes on. And people say: well, how long will it take to reach a resolution? And my best guess is probably sometimes the middle towards the end of August, we will find out who he's gonna fight, where he's gonna fight, what is he gonna fight for.

Dennis Principe: So what is happening right now sir, is Humberto Soto is also your fighter is something that will always be there and will always be available for Manny.

Bob Arum: That is correct. And Valero, you know he is before... the Nevada Commission... so Valero you know would be available for the forseeable future as well.

So, yes, yes, because we have many cards and if Soto doesn't win the fight with Manny Pacquiao, there are other cards that we could put him on the vacant WBC sometimes this year. So, you know, whatever happens, Soto is not gonna be left out in the cold.

Dennis Principe: Mr. Ronnie?

Ronnie Nathanielsz: Mr. Arum, the problem would be, like you said, the financial situation. With the current financial crisis there, the Pay Per View numbers in the recent bout with boxing. Well, it's a very expensive proposition, and then Pacquiao also can be rather expensive. The market, in fact, stand in such...

Bob Arum: Well, we'll have to discuss. My feeling is this, my feeling is that people would be intrigue by the fact that it's De La Hoya's last fight against Pacquiao, against Cotto, will do very good numbers. So, you know I'm troubled by the economic situation in the United States, all over the world, but I don't think that it will that at first would impact the revenues for such a fight.

Ronnie Nathanielsz: Besides, it would be right after the November election, the fight would be better-off in December. I mean confidence-wise.

Bob Arum: Well, I don't know, half of the people will be discouraged. The election in the United States usually ends up to be 49-51.

All: (laughs)

Part 2: Miguel Cotto vs Antonio Margarito - Pacquiao at Ringside