BoxRec

Tacky or Justified?

Pacquiao plans to skip a Tuesday ceremony at the MGM Grand marking formal fighter arrivals, an event that has been standard at the hotel for major championship fights. Pacquiao is staying at another hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, and will have his after fight party at yet another hotel, the Wynn.

Promoter Bob Arum - who has been embroiled in a dispute with the hotel over tickets - said Pacquiao will only go to the MGM for the final pre-fight press conference, the weigh-in and the fight itself.

''We're not gonna stay there any more than we have to, because we know the way they've been acting we're not welcome,'' Arum said.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/pacquiao-p ... --box.html

By STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL



It’s no secret Bob Arum is less than enamored with the management of the MGM Grand. But since Arum has very little say in what happens in next week’s megafight between Manny Pacquiao, whom he promotes, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom he used to promote, Arum is making use of what leverage he does have.

Arum has told reporters that Pacquiao will not attend the “grand arrival” at the MGM Grand Garden Tuesday. The grand arrival usually kicks off the fight week festivities and it’s the first opportunity for the fans to see the fighters up close.

“It’s a waste of time,” Arum said. “And for what? We’ll have the writers come over to the Delano (where Pacquiao is staying in Las Vegas) and talk to Manny over there.”

Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said Pacquiao doesn’t want to participate because he knows the magnitude of the event and he can’t handle the pressure.

“This is the big leagues. This is Floyd Mayweather,” Ellerbe said. “This isn’t Chris Algieri in China. I think (Pacquiao) is feeling the pressure and he’s scared.”

Freddie Roach, who trains Pacquiao, scoffed at that assertion. He told Yahoo! Sports that Pacquiao probably doesn’t even know he’s not going to attend the arrival Tuesday.

“Manny didn’t make that call,” Roach told Yahoo. “Bob made that call. Just like Bob decided to pull the plug on the conference call the other day.”

Arum stopped Pacquiao’s teleconference with reporters Monday after one call because the quality was so poor that no one could hear anything and also because Arum wasn’t pleased with the selection of reporters getting to ask Pacquiao questions.

According to Ellerbe, the terms of the contract stipulate that Pacquiao attend the opening news conference in Los Angeles, which he did; the final news conference for the fight, which will be Wednesday at the MGM; the weigh-in on Friday at the Grand Garden; and the fight itself on May 2.

“(Pacquiao) says he does everything for his fans,” Ellerbe said. “This event is for the fans Tuesday. So why is Manny ducking his fans? Floyd’s met every obligation asked of him and you can rest assured that Floyd will be at his arrival Tuesday at the Grand Garden.”

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/box ... -las-vegas

I wonder......if Arum would bet some money...who would he bet on?

There's no business like show business ;;-)

Brilliant move by Arum! "My Fighter is Coming To F@ck Floyd Up! No Need For This Media Blitz Leading Right Up To The Fight That Gives Floyd The

Mental Edge Arriving LAST Confirming He's The A-Side." A say SMART MOVE in Pac's favor!!!!!! Arum is smarter than all of you think!!!!

Dumb move by Bitter Bob Arum to deprive Manny Pacquiao fans the last chances to see their hero before he gets slayed.

This is so like that idiot Arum, and where's Manny's voice on this, I can't believe that not only is he afraid of Mayweather all these years but he's also afraid of a 80 year old man too.

bnovelist wrote:Brilliant move by Arum! "My Fighter is Coming To F@ck Floyd Up! No Need For This Media Blitz Leading Right Up To The Fight That Gives Floyd The

Mental Edge Arriving LAST Confirming He's The A-Side." A say SMART MOVE in Pac's favor!!!!!! Arum is smarter than all of you think!!!!

Yeah it was real genius

I think Arum is trying to protect Manny from some reporters, much like they did George Bush. Manny says the wrong things sometimes. Should hire an interpreter for him to help.