Top Rank CEO Bob Arum got wind of the assertions by Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya that Antonio Margarito should be "banned for life" in connection with a January 2009 hand-wrapping scandal, and that Margarito's scheduled, Nov. 13 opponent, WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao, should instead meet WBA and WBO lightweight (135 pounds) titlist Juan Manuel Marquez a third time.
Arum promotes Pacquiao and Margarito, who are expected to meet for the vacant WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) title at The Dallas Cowboys Stadium. De La Hoya promotes Marquez, who fought Pacquiao to a disputed draw and lost a narrow decision.
In this Q&A with FanHouse, the 78-year-old Arum gives rival promoter Don King a 79th birthday shout out, discusses Marquez, and defends Magarito.
So today is Don King's 79th birthday, do you have a message for him?
Yeah. You can tell him that I'm in Capri overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and I'm not calling him on his birthday. Tell him that he's stuck in hot Florida, and I'm on the Mediterranean in Capri enjoying myself. Now, who is better off?
No, but seriously, tell Don that I wish him a happy birthday. And maybe next year, when we're both 80, then we'll both go on vacation here together.
What is the state of Antonio Margarito's license in Texas, which I know that you have filed?
That's right now before the Texas commission.
Do you have any response to Oscar De La Hoya's contention that Antonio Margarito should be banned for life?
As far as Margarito is concerned, you know, it's clear to anybody who read the transcript of the California hearings that Margarito was not responsible personally for those hand wraps. And the California commission didn't find him responsible for the hand wraps.
It's clear what they found. And, I guess, like Margarito said, 'how would I know that things were in there, when I didn't even have an opportunity to test my wraps by hitting anything?' And, you know, five of the best trainers in the sport said that they could slip things into the gloves without the fighter knowing.
So the idea that Margarito was trying to cheat, not that his corner was trying to cheat, but that he, himself, was trying to cheat, that was not established and it's not a fact.
And, if Golden Boy feels that Antonio Margarito doesn't deserve to fight Manny Pacquiao, then, remember, they still get a piece [25 percent] of Manny Pacquiao's profits from the promotion because of their settlement with Pacquiao.
So let them give up that piece, and we'll give it to charity. If they feel so high and mighty, then let them put their money where their mouths are. And don't give it to me. I don't want their piece. Let them give it to charity.
Do you have any response to Oscar De La Hoya's assertion that Manny Pacquiao should be fighting Juan Manuel Marquez instead of Antonio Margarito?
As far as Marquez is concerned, he's a very, very good fighter. He's a nice person. But one thing that he hasn't demonstrated is that he can compete as a welterweight. He certainly didn't demonstrate that in the fight with Floyd Mayweather. Before he starts talking about fighting Manny Pacquiao at this higher weight, let him fight a legitimate welterweight.
Let him fight [WBC welterweight champion] Andre Berto, who is looking for a fight. Let him fight Joshua Clottey, who I promote and who I can get for him to fight. Let him fight a legitimate welterweight. Once he fights a legitimate welterweight and succeeds, then don't you think that we would love to put him in against Manny Pacquiao?
That's assuming Pacquioa beats Antonio Margarito. We would love to then make a fight between Pacquiao and Marquez. We would love to do that. But how can you sell a Pacquiao-Marquez fight, when Marquez has never demonstrated that he can fight as high as welterweight?
Now, he hasn't even fought as a junior welterweight (140 pounds) has he?
Right. So, I would say that to make a legitimate sell for a fight with Manny Pacquiao, that Marquez has to fight a welterweight or even a junior welterweight who, if he defeats, is a real accomplishment. But the guy that he should fight is Berto. Because Berto isn't under promotion by me, but by Lou DiBella.
Berto is looking for a fight, so why doesn't he fight Berto?
And you think that HBO would actually buy Marquez-Berto?
HBO would kiss me on both cheeks if that fight was made and it happened.
Anyone else you could see Juan Manuel Marquez fight before facing Manny?
Well, I'll throw out three or four names. If he were to fight Berto, if he were to fight Clottey, or he could fight [WBO junior welterweight king] Tim Bradley or he could fight [WBC and IBF titlist] Devon Alexander.
Any of those four. And if he beats one of them, now he can say, 'I can compete at the higher weights with Manny Pacquiao.'
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
