Title Fight in Macau Between Pacquiao and Velero is Called Off

Written on June 7, 2008 by admin

The planned title fight between Manny Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, and World Boxing Association champion Edwin Valero in Macau is off.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum revealed that he had a long discussion with the Venetian Macao people and the problem was that in order to make a Pacquiao fight work—which needs to have pay-per-view television—the fights would have to be staged at around 10 or 11 a.m. on a Sunday morning in Macau.

“We won’t be able to attract the high rollers, at that time,” said Arum, who as a result, decided to call off the planned fight in Macau, the MST reports.

But Arum said he plans an alternate blockbuster of three world championship bouts, because Macau “desperately wants the fights.”

Arum disclosed that under his plan, two of the title fights will involve Filipinos. “We’ll do it on a Saturday night.”

He said he plans to have the fights televised around Asia and put on in the United States on a small pay-per-view platform, which would appeal to Filipino and Mexican fans. “I think it can work and that’s what I’m looking to do.”

The promoter said that putting Pacquiao in Macau on a Saturday night with the PPV problem would “make no business sense.”

Arum mentioned the possibility of having North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion fight Juan Manuel Lopez , if the undefeated Puerto Rican beats Daniel Ponce de Leon on Saturday and International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire taking on WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico.

Arum also mentioned the possibility of Z “The Dream” Gorres figuring in a rematch with Montiel to whom he lost a highly controversial split decision in Cebu in February last year if they can’t do the Donaire fight

“There are plenty of guys we can put on,” said Arum, who added he spoke to Donaire’s manager Cameron Duncan. “Even if Gary [Shaw] still has promotional rights, I can work something out with Gary in what would be a really interesting fight.”

Meanwhile, Arum, said trainer Freddie Roach told him: “Manny’s preparation is 100 percent.”

According to Roach, Pacquiao didn’t get out of shape after the March 15 bout with Juan Manuel Marquez in which the Pacman won the WBC super featherweight title in a tough battle.