Arum cites Pacquiao's growth as a fighter

MANILA, Philippines – In terms of skills, punching power and unbelievable dexterity inside the squared circle, Manny Pacquiao is unparalleled, according to Top Rank promotions chief Bob Arum.

During his recent visit in the Philippines for the negotiations of the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight, Arum shared how lucky he is to promote the seven-time world champion.

“The best fighter I've ever had is Manny Pacquiao,” he said during an interview over radio dzMM. “I'm not saying that because I'm here. I said that immediately after the [Miguel] Cotto fight.”

Arum was referring to the Firepower fight between Pacquiao and Cotto last month, where the Filipino demolished the Puerto Rican welterweight in 12 rounds.

The pound-for-pound king Pacquiao, who started fighting professionally as a 106-pounder, outpunched Cotto to bring home the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.

“He has such a skill set, he is so fast,” Arum said, referring to Pacquiao.

Arum said he wouldn’t have described Pacquiao as the “best” years ago, when the Filipino was yet to be developed as an “all-around fighter.”

Back then, the Top Rank chief said, Pacquiao only relied on his powerful left hand.

“You know, when he was a one-dimensional left handed fighter, I would never have said that he was anyway near the greatest fighter,” he said. “Now, he hits with both hands with equal power.”

Arum, who has been one of the driving forces behind boxing since the ‘80s, has handled some of the best boxers in the history of the sport.

“I've really had the great ones. I've had [Muhammad] Ali, I've had George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, [Alex] Arguello... But I'm telling you that I have never ever seen anybody as good as Manny Pacquiao is now,” said Arum.

Pacquiao is currently groomed to fight Mayweather in a match described by some analysts as the Filipino boxer’s “certification” to boxing greatness.

The hard-punching slugger from General Santos City has already earned the distinction of being the first boxer to become a seven-time world champion.

The undefeated Mayweather, on the other hand, has won 6 world boxing championships in 5 different weight classes. He is a former top pound-for-pound fighter.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com