Congratulations to Bob Arum and company for fooling me. Not that I am surprised by Pacquiao’s decision win over Shane Mosley. In fact, it was my pick. But the doubts your promotion intended to put into my mind were there. Pacquiao has proven time and again that he causes even the most skilled, and/or durable fighters to think twice about trading with him. What he does is amazing, and so what are his future plans?
Arum is not saying the F-word (Floyd), because he thinks he is such a great promoter that he can make everyone forget about the most important fight in the world. You know, the one fight where’d he have to share the pie? Arum, listen to me. All of your work will go out the window if the big fight is not made. You will be remembered as the man whose ego cost the world one of the greatest matchups of all time. Second to Floyd’s ego that is… but Manny will never come off looking like the bad guy on the Top Rank side of the argument. You will.
All the great promotion you have done in your career will be forgotten. You need to grovel, beg, and plead for the Mayweather fight. Floyd’s reputation cannot get any worse. His un-beaten record is all he has. He’d rather miss this fight. Pacquiao needs it. He is a star right now, but the question marks about Mayweather will be what people will remember, because his recent fights have been so unmemorable. He also has no such risk of losing an unbeaten record. The fight will also likely be a huge dud if Floyd wins… thereby keeping Pacquiao in fight fans’ good graces. Simply put… you need this more than they do. Get on your knees for your own legacy.
Your vendetta against Golden Boy is also so transparent and childish it’s laughable. What are Pacquiao’s options, according to Mr. Arum; Marquez 3? Nice timing? Where Golden Boy would have to cater to your whims? Bradley and Judah. Now, you’re attempting to take away Golden Boy’s other meal ticket in Amir Khan. Those are opponents for him, not Pacquiao. Besides, Pacquiao-Marquez 3 will give you a taste of the bad publicity Floyd will face if the superfight fight gets delayed much longer. Everyone will say you waited until Marquez was aged and slower. Just like people are claiming that Floyd is attempting with Manny.
It’s time to put up or shut up. Get in that negotiation room, and do whatever it takes. Everything you give away, is just one more excuse you can break out later. It will all pay off in the long run. Shelve your ego. You’ve already proven you can make millions selling a mismatch, based on star power. We get it. Now, get over it, grow up, and let’s all move on to the finish-line prize for which we are all waiting.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
