With a live gate of over 74 million that has shattered all previous records for any fight in history and with total revenue expected to exceed 400 million, there really isn't much need to promote the upcoming mega-fight between Floyd "Money" Mayweather and arch nemesis Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao.
Bob Arum, after inspecting Pacquiao's conditioning, is supremely confident that Manny Pacquiao will KO Floyd Mayweather.
Perhaps it was the arrival of Mickey Rouke, who showed up at the Wild Card Gym in La-La land sporting gauze and bandages on his nose (nobody ever does that in Hollywood). Hell, maybe he was the mystery sparring partner who reportedly (according to Freddie Roach) bothered TMT and Al Haymon so much.
Watch the live fight for free online on May 2 here: http://mannypacquiao-floydmayweather-stream.blogspot.com/2015/02/pacquiao-vs-mayweather-live-stream-free.html
In any event, Top Rank's long-time "Don" Bob Arum, continues to display the confidence so readily apparent from the podium at the glitzy Los Angeles launch on March 12. After witnessing Pacquiao over the weekend, the legendary promoter decided to weigh in on the potential outcome of a fight that needs no help at all.
"He's better than I've ever seen him," Arum told assembled international media. "I really think Manny's going to stop him [Mayweather]."
Arum has consistently maintained that Pacquiao would always beat Mayweather, but feels at this stage of their careers, Pacquiao holds a firm edge in several key areas. Of course, he's supposed to say this, especially given the foulness which accompanied the rather acrimonious split between Mayweather and his Top Rank brand.
"I think he [Manny] has the better skill set of the two at this stage of their careers. I think he'll win with movement, by the number of punches that he throws, and I think his foot speed is better."
Floyd probably believes Arum is worth at least a $1000 bowl of the worst crow Chef Q can come up with, as he's never been out-gunned -- or really even out-anything'd, over the course of his illustrious career. There was the jazzy style of Emanuel Augustus and the brave volume of a Ronnie Shields trained Jesus Chavez. Then there was the unrelenting pressure of Ricky Hatton.
Mayweather stopped them all, and has added strength during this camp with the intention of stopping Pacquiao himself. Arum isn't buying it at all, not even on clearance, owed to his belief in Pacquiao's unique blend of speed and style from the southpaw stance.
"Mayweather 's an excellent fighter, no question about that, and he creates a tremendous challenge for Manny. But I think Manny at this stage can rise to that challenge and win the fight."
Pacquiao has been an absolute monster in training camp thus far, as his rather talkative trainer Freddie Roach concurs with Arum, a man who long ago promoted his wild, 'do or die' type action adventures in the ring. "This is the best Manny I've ever had. All the focus a trainer could ever want out of a fighter and I'm really happy where we're at," sprayed Roach. "He is in top condition. Manny is a freak."
