Arum: De La Hoya blog "outrageous"

Oscar De La Hoya suggested in his latest blog that promoter Bob Arum arranged to have a relatively big ring for the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas because it would favor Pacquiao, his top fighter.

The fact is, Arum pointed out, that ring size is standard in Nevada: 20 feet by 20 feet. Thus, he couldn’t show favoritism even if he wanted to.

Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, confirmed that the ring will be 20 by 20, according to Yahoo! Sports.

“The idea that I’m bringing in a big ring to favor Pacquiao, who he said I want to win, is absolutely outrageous,” Arum said. “… Everybody who has fought in Nevada the last 10 years has fought in the same-sized ring, including Oscar.”

Arum said the standard ring size evolved from the Riddick Bowe-Larry Donald fight in 1994, in which the size of the ring became a point of contention. Not long after that, to avoid that situation, Nevada officials decided to go with a standard ring.

The portion of De La Hoya's blog in question was removed in light of the standard ring size.

Arum promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto.