Last week, 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao abruptly called a halt to his media workout after just a few minutes of some very light mitt work with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. Earlier this week, for no legitimate reason, Arum completely cancelled an international conference call scheduled for Pacquiao seconds after it got started. Now, according to multiple reports, Arum is once again pulling the plug, this time on the scheduled grand arrival that customarily kicks off the start of fight week at the MGM Grand. Evidently, Arum wants to protect Pacquiao from the "chaos" of the fans and make it easier for the media to have access to him.
"We told them we're coming in Monday night and we're going to the Mandalay Bay and we're not doing a grand arrival at the MGM...We'll have the press come over to Mandalay Bay and do an interview with Manny there," Arum explained to Tim Dahlberg of the Associated Press. He took it a step further in conversations with Yahoo Sports and ESPN.com, telling Kevin Iole, "Manny doesn't need all the chaos that ensues with a grand arrival" and explaining to Dan Rafael, "We don't need a show for his arrival and we can do without all the hoopla. We'll keep it calm for Manny. We'll get a big room downstairs at Mandalay Bay and Manny will talk to the press there in an orderly way and in a comfortable environment. I think that's a lot better for Manny and, frankly, it's better for the press. Why does he need a grand arrival when he's not even staying at that place?"
Fortunately for fans who attend grand arrivals in hopes of getting a glimpse of their favorite fighters, undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweater has no intentions of disappointing and is looking forward to greeting fans on Tuesday. Contrary to Arum's explanation, Mayweather Promotions CEO Lenoard Ellerbe believes there's another reason why Arum has been quick to keep Pacquiao out of the limelight. "The spectacle, the magnitude of this event is something Manny has never been through before. He's been in a lot of big fights, but there are big fights and there is a Floyd Mayweather fight. There are obligations you have and things you have to do when you're in an event of this magnitude that he hasn't had to do before. He's not fighting no Chris Algieri now. This is a whole new ballgame," Ellerbe explained to Yahoo Sports. "Freddie Roach thinks he runs a tight camp, but I know everything that's happening there. I heard it's been a very rough camp. And now, I think it's dawning on Manny Pacquiao exactly what he's up against."
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