Arum defends choosing Bradley over Crawford for Pacquiao

LAS VEGAS – Critics of Saturday’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley argue that the former should’ve chosen a younger and more dangerous opponent whom he hadn’t faced before.

Some observers prefer Pacquiao to take on rising star Terence Crawford, currently the WBO super lightweight champion.

Pacquiao and Freddie Roach were receptive of the fight, but ultimately, the final decision wasn’t up to them.

“We said yes (to fighting Crawford), but I don't think it was us who didn't want to make it happen,” Roach told a few reporters after Pacquiao made his grand arrival at the MGM Grand here Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum immediately butted in, saying he was the one responsible for picking Bradley over Crawford as Pacquiao’s next foe.

“That's true,” said Arum.

The reason, according to the veteran promoter, is marketability, as Crawford’s fan base outside his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, is not huge enough.

Boxing is business after all, and promoters want to maximize profits in huge events.

Pacquiao and Bradley have clashed twice already, producing decent pay-per-view numbers. Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs), meanwhile, remains a question mark.

“I've told everybody the same freaking thing over and over again: Crawford is an excellent, excellent fighter. A future star for Top Rank and for boxing. But Crawford wasn't known to the people,” Arum added.

“He had been in a couple of fights on HBO and we were afraid to put him as a major opponent for Manny Pacquiao.”