Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is going to have his hands full in the coming days and weeks.
Some people say that Arum might even have so much on his plate that the Top Rank chief might end up choking.
But Arum, the unsinkable 82- year-old Harvard-educated lawyer, knows how to divide his time and getting the job done.
Tops on Arum’s agenda when he spends a week in Macau will be to preside over the Nonito Donaire versus Simpiwe Vetyeka world featherweight title fight this Saturday night at the CotaiArena inside the Venetian Macau.
But one more pressing commitment, which is actually more important is the discussion of Manny Pacquiao’s next fight.
“I have a meeting with The Venetian people this Wednesday,” said Arum yesterday from Las Vegas on the eve of his departure to Asia.
Arum won’t be heading straight to Macau but will spend Monday night in Hong Kong before travelling to the former Portuguese colony on Tuesday morning.
In Macau, Arum will not only meet up with the casino big bosses but with the camp of Pacquiao, who will be represented by his Canadian agent Mike Koncz.
Arum likewise said that instead of Nov. 16 (Nov. 15 in the US), Pacquiao’s ring return against a foe to be named sometime in June, will be moved down to Nov. 8, citing that an MMA event has already booked the original date.
Macau is the leading contender to land the Pacquiao fight although Las Vegas remains in the mix.
Last year, Pacquiao brought his act to Macau where he beat up Brandon Rios.
While the fight wasn’t really a success in pay-per-view sales in the US, the casino resort gave Pacquiao a little extra in anticipation of a not-so-impressive PPV showing. (Nick Giongco)