Bob Arum rules out Canelo Alvarez as opponent for Pacquiao's 'farewell bout'
TOP Rank Promotions chief Bob Arum believes Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight in 2016 would also be his farewell bout as he seeks a Senate seat in next year’s national elections.
But that doesn’t mean Arum is inclined to put Pacquiao against Mexican Canelo Alvarez in what could be a blockbuster match.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times’ Lance Pugmire, Arum admitted having discussions with Golden Boy Promotions’ counterpart Oscar Dela Hoya about staging a fight featuring the 36-year-old Pacquiao, but readily thumbed down a showdown with the 25-year-old Alvarez.
The highly-popular Mexican and former world middleweight champion is fresh from a third-round knockout of James Kirkland and is scheduled to meet Miguel Cotto next month for the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title.
Alvarez sports a 45-1-1 record, with 37 KOs, with his only loss coming at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. via majority decision in 2013.
Arum says he's had discussions with @OscarDeLaHoya about a Pacquiao-@Canelo fight but Arum doesn't like the idea.
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) October 21, 2015
Arum, however, isn’t inclined to accept the fight since he said Canelo will be too big for Pacquiao, who fights as a welterweight.
Arum on Pacquiao-@Canelo: "I'm not advocating it. Canelo could weigh 170 on fight night. That's just looking for trouble."
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) October 21, 2015
The heaviest Pacquiao fought was at light middleweight against Mexican Antonio Margarito, who he decisioned in 12 rounds to win the WBC title.
Arum also added a possible fifth fight with old rival Juan Marquez is officially out of the picture since the veteran Mexican is not interested to fight Pacquiao again.
Bob Arum tells me @jmmarquez_1 is effectively out of consideration for the Pacquiao fight due to his disinterest.
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) October 21, 2015
Arum reiterated he feels Pacquiao’s next fight next year will be his last given that he'll be running for a seat in the Senate in the 2016 national elections. The Filipino boxing superstar is currently a member of Congress representing Sarangani province.
More Arum: "Money is secondary to health. I'm convinced Manny's next fight will be his last. He wants to put on a good show."
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) October 21, 2015