Top Rank’s Bob Arum has warned world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao against going into basketball while not concentrating on boxing.
Arum made the warning as Pacquiao readies for his Nov. 23 defense of the world welterweight crown.
The Top Rank honcho said Pacquiao should not take his November fight for granted.
Pacquiao is set to face undefeated American fighter Chris Algieri in Macau in Nov. 23.
The Top Rank chief said the Filipino star should focus on boxing in light of Pacquiao’s foray into the world of professional basketball.
Pacquiao will call the shots for Kia Motors when the PBA opens shop on Oct. 19 and the fighting congressman is also going to make his presence felt when the annual draft is held on Aug. 24.
“He can’t do both (boxing and basketball),” Arum said from Los Angeles, fully aware of the plans to put up Pacquiao’s training camp on the same venue where the basketball squad is going to hold its practice sessions.
Arum said the site of Pacquiao’s training camp will be discussed during the six-city press tour beginning Aug. 25 in Macau.
Arum said the promo tour will continue to Shanghai and onward to the US mainland for stops in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York.
“We’ll talk to Manny if it is possible that he spend six weeks in Los Angeles,” said the 82-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer.
If Pacquiao turns it down, something that is very likely, Arum would suggest that he set up camp in General Santos City, stressing his stint in the PBA is an added distraction.
Algieri is the overwhelming underdog against Pacquiao but the native New Yorker insists he has what it takes to shock the world.