Arum says ‘no one will go’ to Pacquiao-Bradley rematch

With statistics showing Pacquiao dominated the fight, and public opinion in favor of Pacman, promoter Bob Arum is wary of a proposed rematch against Timothy Bradley REUTERS/Steve Marcus

While legions of outraged Filipino fans may be raring to see ring icon Manny Pacquiao score a decisive win in a rematch against Timothy Bradley, Bob Arum is saying, not so fast. 

Arum was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying, "The brokers are telling us if we make a Bradley rematch, no one will go," referring to public dismay at the shocking split decision in favor of Bradley in last weekend's welterweight title bout. 

Compubox scores had Pacquiao dominating the various punching stats, landing a greater total of jabs (24 percent versus 11 percent), and power punches (39 percent versus 28 percent) landed.

Bradley did throw more punches (839 versus Pacquiao's 751), but the Filipino was the more accurate fighter overall, connecting on 34 percent, compared to a measly 19 percent for "Desert Storm."

The Times is also reporting that Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, Arum's company, wants to poll fans first if they want to see such a rematch, before committing to the bout on paper.

Bob Arum, shown here in a pre-fight photo last February, is calling for an investigation into the judges' "incredible" decision that made Timothy Bradley Jr. the victor over Manny Pacquiao last weekend.Reuters/Bret Hartman/File

Pacquiao has a contractual right to demand a rematch in case Bradley wins. 

Local analysts, however, have no doubt a rematch is on the horizon. "Arum's perspective is an American perspective," says sports commentator Sev Sarmenta. "Hintayin mo mga Pinoy fans sa America, at lahat ng Pinoy rito. Hahanap ng ganti yan."

At the end of May, Bradley was already bragging that Pacquiao would have to cash in his rematch clause, a boast he made good on by beating Pacman in a split-decision, 115-113, 115-113, 113-115.

Bradley went to pre-fight and post-fight press conferences with mock-ups of a November 11 rematch between him and the Sarangani congressman.

Pacquiao, for his part, is eager to fight Bradley again, with the aim of knocking Bradley out to leave no more room for controversial decisions. - AMD/HS, GMA News