Manny Pacquiao is a warrior.
If it were up to him, he'd fight all reasonable challengers. Unfortunately, the matchmaking is not up to Pacquiao.
That duty is still ridiculously under the control of Bob Arum.
Apparently, Pacquiao feels some peculiar sense of loyalty to Arum, or he just doesn't want to deal with the promotional aspect of the business. He has to know that he doesn't need Arum or anyone else to promote his fights anymore.
Pacquiao is one of the biggest names in sports—let alone boxing.
All he has to do is send out a Facebook or Twitter blast that he has signed to fight his next opponent, and the attention will come. By maintaining Arum as a matchmaker, Pacquiao inherits many of the beefs Arum has accumulated over his checkered past in the sport.
One very high-profile instance is Arum's problems with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.—who largely promotes himself.
There are a ton of impediments that have prevented the 'superfight' from coming to fruition, but don't underestimate the problems 'Money' and Arum have had in the past.
Arum was once Mayweather's promoter, but the two had a nasty separation (NY Daily News). The remnants of those issues only make the negotiations to get this fight done more tenuous.
Arum also promotes Timothy Bradley—the man Pacquiao lost a controversial decision to in June.
Bradley seemed like a more logical opponent for a December bout. Instead of Pacquiao seeking a measure of revenge, he agreed to fight Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time.
Who wanted to see Pacquiao take this fight?
Not many boxing fans would prefer to see him battle Marquez again over the prospects of seeing him take on Bradley in a rematch.
Pacquiao told Ring Magazine he chose Marquez because he wanted the challenge, and that he felt the Bradley rematch would be one-sided.
Really?
No matter what you believe, Manny, the record book says you lost.
That explanation really makes no sense.
Brad Cooney of the Examiner.com believes Pacquiao chose Marquez because he stands to earn about $8 million more dollars to fight Marquez a fourth time. Honestly speaking, that seems like a more plausible reason, and that motivation directly relates to the further lining of Arum's pockets.
Boxing is a business, there is no getting around that.
However, an Arum-less Pacquiao would remove a lot of the issues that impede Pacquiao from taking the most desired potential opponents.
'Pac Man' has out-grown the need for Arum's services.
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