Bob Arum: ‘Pacquiao Could Be Back at the End of This Year’

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Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank copyright 2012

May 7, 2012, Hollywood, Ca.  ---  "OPENING DAY" ---  Superstar Manny Pacquiao greets Hall of Fame Top Rank promoter Bob Arum(L) during his US opening training camp at the Wildcard Boxing Club Monday in preparation for his upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight against undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy "The Desert Storm" Bradley Jr..  Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Bradley will take place, Saturday, June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO Pay Per View.  --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank  (no other credit allowed)  copyright 2012

ThaBoxingvoice.com got a chance to catch up with the CEO of Top Rank Boxing, Bob Arum, and we were able to touch upon a variety of topics going on currently with the veteran promoter’s company.

First off we talked about the proposed Sept. 26 PPV in Mexico that Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions will be working on together. The event will be done in a similar fashion as the old Latin Fury PPVs that Arum had put on in the past to help build his up and coming prospects. “We’re still working on it. Yeah HBO will be supporting it even if they won’t be directly involved,” Arum explained.

Although there have been recent reports about former WBO Welterweight Champion, Manny Pacquiao blowing off his therapy for a shoulder injury that he suffered in preparation for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Arum was quick to refute those claims. “He sent us a video and the therapists are stunned at his progress. They said he could be back at the end of this year.”

When asked if the red hot WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford could be a possible future opponent down the road for Pacquiao, Arum responded, “Yes.”

We also asked Arum if he was glad that he let go of Julio Cesar Chavez Junior’s contract given the Mexican’s recent shortcomings and his lackluster approach to the sport. “No, I’m saddened. It’s a shame to see how his career has ended up,” Arum replied.

The highly anticipated fight between Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux was thought to be dead in the water because allegedly the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement. Arum shed some light on the recent reports. “Who said the fight isn’t happening? I’m still working it, and I’m trying to put it together. The fighters want it.”

Arum gave his opinion on the Tim Bradley-Jesse Vargas fight that had a controversial ending last month when referee Pat Russell stopped the fight seven seconds too early because he thought he heard the final bell. Vargas had Bradley extremely hurt at the time after landing a crushing overhand right and claimed he would have finished him if not for the mistake made by the referee. Arum seemed to think otherwise. “No, there wasn’t enough time left. I don’t think he would have stopped him.” Arum went on to reveal Bradley’s next foe claiming, “Brandon Rios will be his next opponent.”

Although we couldn’t go into much detail due to legal matters, Arum had this to say about his recent lawsuit with high profile manager Al Haymon: “We want our fighters to be able to fight the best fighters out there regardless of who they are handled by.”