After uproar over Mosley: Arum looking for worthy foe

HOLLYWOOD – It’s not that easy to find an opponent for Manny Pacquiao, one who would engage, one who wouldn’t run, and one who wouldn’t disappoint.

One who would really suit Pacquiao.

Bob Arum, therefore, has to make sure that whoever gets in there next with Pacquiao, and he’s looking at Nov. 5 in Las Vegas, has to deliver.

“We should come up with a fighter that will engage as Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez,” said Arum, referring to the Mexican warriors.

Morales is the last fighter to beat Pacquiao, and it came on points, in March of 2005, while Marquez was the closest to get there, in their 2008 rematch.

“It’s very difficult to get somebody who can be competitive with him,” Arum said.

Mosley is definitely not the right person, as he showed two nights ago at the MGM Grand, where he did a lot of running he must have covered the distance of a kiddie marathon.

Mosley said in the heading to the fight he has many advantages over Pacquiao – the speed, the power, the experience to pull off the biggest upset in boxing today.

But he showed none, except his running skills.

During the post-fight press conference, Arum said Marquez, who was in town for the fight, is on top of the list of candidates as Pacquiao’s next opponent.

“Marquez has very, very close fights with Manny early on. But I think Manny can take the fight out of Marquez now,” said Arum.

The first time Pacquiao and Marquez fought in 2004, at 126 pounds, it ended in a controversial draw, and in their rematch, at 130 pounds, the Filipino won a very close decision.

Marquez said he felt he won both fights. Now he might just get a third one.

Pacquiao is the reigning WBO welterweight champion, and should the third fight with Marquez happen, it could be at a catchweight of 143 to 145 pounds.

Arum also dropped a couple of names, in case Marquez doesn’t become available, saying Timothy Bradley as well as Zab Judah are out there waiting.

“Shane didn’t have the answer, and neither (Oscar) dela Hoya, (Antonio) Margarito or (Joshua) Clottey,” said Arum.

 “You got to understand what you’re watching is a phenomena. Nobody could compete with him, nobody,” he added.

Not even Marquez.