Arum says his ward can go left, right

LAS VEGAS – Bob Arum said Manny Pacquiao, his favorite son, is like a Major League pitcher who can throw the ball a hundred miles per hour, with either hand.

“It’s something I said two years ago which is even more true today. Manny Pacquiao is the greatest fighter I’ve ever seen,” said Arum during Friday’s official weigh-in.

He was introducing the reigning champion to the huge crowd.

“He’s very fast with both his hands and his feet and has great ring intelligence. He punches extremely well with both hands, the right and the left,” he said.

“He’s like a Major League pitcher who can pitch well with his left or right hand.”

But Arum also reserved some praise for Mosley.

“In this era, one of the great, great fighters is Sugar Shane Mosley. That’s why this is going to be a great, great fight,” said Arum.                         

He said it’s going to be one hell of a fight, except that it’s going to be clean because in the runup to the fight, there was “not one iota of trashtalking.”

“Sugar Shane comes from a great family and Manny Pacquiao was also raised well. And Filipinos don’t trash talk. Filipinos are wonderful people,” said Arum.

Delivered like a Major League pitcher. And the Filipino crowd roared.