There is no doubt in Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s mind who the winner will be in the March 13 fight for the ages between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and the man who was king before him, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Arum who promoted some of Mayweather’s fights in the past and had a not-too-pleasant falling out with him and those around him, would like nothing better than for Pacquiao to win and in the process shut the mouth of the abrasive father of Floyd, Floyd Mayweather Sr.

Mayweather Sr's foul language appears to be a trademark and something that comes naturally even as Pacquiao, ever the gentleman and known for his humility says there is no need for foul language and trash talk to promote a fight or to help the sport of boxing.

Arum, on the other hand, is elated over the enthusiasm for the fight displayed by Pacquiao saying his competitive juices are already flowing and in the eight weeks of training which is likely to begin in the Philippine summer capital of Baguio and wind up at trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym, he should be in terrific shape.



Arum is not underestimating Mayweather even as he dismisses claims that he is scared. Arum told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that Mayweather “is not afraid. He is not a coward but like most fighters he is scared of losing his unbeaten record.”

The astute promoter who turns 78 on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) said Mayweather is “probably one of the best defensive fighters that I’ve seen and he’s a very, very good fighter.”

However, Arum believes that Pacquiao is unlike any other fighter Mayweather has met in the past and with his hand- speed, his movement and his power, “Manny will destroy Mayweather.”

He said that’s the reason he likes the fight and according to him so does Roach as well as Top Rank’s ace matchmaker Bruce Trampler. In fact Arum senses that Mayweather has been reluctant to do the fight and that was one of the reasons they agreed to a March 13 date because they thought Pacquiao would turn it down because of the May congressional elections which would have given Mayweather a chance to back out.

Arum thinks that Mayweather doesn’t have what it takes to beat Pacquiao. He said “I don’t think Mayweather has anything to beat him (Pacquiao) with.”

Although he admits that Mayweather is a very good defensive fighter that Freddie Roach and Manny himself will “ find a key to be able to attack Mayweather and once Manny can attack Mayweather I don’t think Mayweather can take his punches. I look for Manny to knock him out in six or seven rounds."