Arum not ruling out an upset

LAS VEGAS – Bob Arum believes Timothy Bradley when the boxer from Palm Springs says he believes he can beat Manny Pacquiao.

It’s almost a long shot, at 5-1, for Bradley to score an upset against Pacquiao, who may be far more skillful, far more experienced as a fighter.

But miracles do happen.

“He really is sincerely confident. You’ve got to know Bradley,” said Arum, lucky he has both Pacquiao and Bradley under his wings.

Arum is not merely selling the fight, as he’d done so well for nearly half a century, when he says Bradley has a chance, slim or otherwise, of pulling it off.

“Tim has become a real personality and people are picking up on what he’s saying. He’s confident. So, it’s all good,” he said.

Bradley loves to talk, and he doesn’t get tired.

Or it’s just the confidence in him, in his picture-perfect body, that this may be his time.

“And Bradley really believes now with the work he’s done he can beat Manny Pacquiao. He really believes that,” said the big boss of Top Rank, Inc.

There’s not one like Bradley, in Arum’s sharp eyes, lately.

“I don’t really believe that the other (Pacquiao) opponents really believed the same as Tim that they can beat Manny Pacquiao.

“I don’t think (Joshua) Clottey did. I don’t think (Shane) Mosley did. Maybe (Juan Manuel) Marquez did but certainly this kid believes,” he said.

Arum will always like Bradley – regardless of what happens next.