Roll call: Pacquiao troops must rally now

Bombastic Bob Arum, a cheapskate who hopes to ice skate over the issue, had the nerve, the audacity and the unmitigated gall to tell a Filipino newspaper that "nobody cares in the US" if Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto fight Nov. 14 with Cotto defending the WBO welterweight title.

Arum elaborated, saying Cotto has no intention of paying a $400,000 sanctioning fee to the Puerto Rico based WBO.

Arum said Pacman-Cotto is a big deal as a mere 145 pound limit, 12 round bout.

I say different. I say Arum's cash cow, Pacman, is getting cheated out of making ring history by winning his seventh weight division world title.

Arum acts like that is nothing special. Arum is blase and business as usual. He views this accomplishment as so much chopped liver.

I have this gut feeling that the loyal troops who idolize Pacquiao and many of those who back Cotto are not so indifferent.

So I am rallying the troops on both sides. I want to see Pacquiao and Cotto fans mobilize.

Please send me your name, rank and serial number. If you agree with Arum, don't bother.

OK, forget that. Just your name and where you live like so:

Bernie Vee, Cebu, or Joe Schmoe, Cleveland.

Tip of the White Gorilla cap to "Blue And White Crusader" for this timely poll suggestion.

That's all you need to put in your email. I will organize all the names and submit them to the Top Rank top honcho.

Does Pacman having a chance to win a seventh division world crown mean anything to you?

Write to mlcmarley@aol.com.

I hope to submit a huge list to Arum by Tuesday.

The list will be copied to WBO president Paco Valcarcel and to Cotto attorney Gabriel Penagaricano Jr.

Will the Pacquiao Army rally for this important roll call?

Will the Cotto fans be heard?

Can Arum afford not to hear your cry?

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m7d25-Roll-call-Pacquiao-troops-must-rally-now