MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum has accepted the fact that Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight with Jessie Vargas will be harder to market, that’s why he’s exploring unique ways of promoting it.
That includes reminding boxing fans that Pacquiao is now a “fighting senator.”
In an interview with RingTV.com’s Mitch Abramson, Arum said he plans to produce primers featuring Pacquiao’s work as a Philippine senator.
“In other words, it’s like a ‘24/7’ but I think it’s going to be much more innovative,” Arum said, referring to the award-winning HBO show “24/7” – on which Pacquiao has starred before – that serves as primers for major boxing matches.
Arum’s strategy comes as HBO, which has aired Pacquiao’s past fights, this time has shunned the Pacquiao-Vargas bout set on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Now, it has fallen to Arum’s hands to broadcast the fight himself, via Top Rank’s pay-per-view arm.
“Just like most human beings, you go and accept the status quo,” the veteran promoter continued.
Pacquiao currently juggles his legislative duties and training, working out at a nearby boxing gym after attending sessions at the Senate office in Pasay City.
Arum, for his part, wants to highlight this aspect of Pacquiao’s busy life.
“We’re going to do major pieces that have never been seen before. We’re going to take cameras right into the Senate, see him considering bills. I think it’s going to be fascinating,” he said.
Arum said the primers will be shown on major US networks such as CBS, NBC and ABC.
“They’re all very, very receptive to getting this kind of programming,” he said.