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JOEL Diaz, the trainer of new world welterweight champion Timothy Bradley Jr., is upset with Top Rank Promotions chief executive Bob Arum for allegedly "turning his back" on the undefeated fighter.
"I don't even want to talk about Bob Arum," Diaz told Examiner.
Last June 9, Bradley surprised the boxing world when he was awarded a split decision victory over Filipino fight king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao to become the new World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion.
It was a highly questionable result, and Arum would later ask the Nevada State Attorney General to investigate the circumstances surrounding the scoring of the fight.
But Diaz said Arum, who signed Bradley to a promotional contract with Top Rank last year, turned his back on the fighter with his words and actions after the fight.
"It's just sad that he signs a fighter, he promises him everything, he promises every fighter that he's going to make him a superstar, and when sh*t like this goes down, he turns his back on you," Diaz said.
Diaz also wonders if Arum's post-fight protests were merely "mind games" on the promoter's part.
"I don't know if he did that just to cover up, because at the end of the day, he's a promoter,” the trainer said. "He's the one that pays the money."
"He's the one that signs the checks. He's the one that hires the officials," Diaz added.
Diaz added that while boxing remains "a beautiful sport," its business side is "sh*tty."
A few weeks ago, the WBO announced that a panel of five judges had re-scored the Pacquiao-Bradley fight unanimously in the Filipino's favor. They will not strip Bradley of the welterweight title, however.
It remains to be seen if Pacquiao and Bradley will meet in a rematch later this year. (ABS-CBNnews.com)
May 21,2013 12:50 AM
May 21,2013 12:48 AM
May 21,2013 12:44 AM
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