Arum's personal vendetta nixes potential Margarito-Williams rematch

"They realized Paul was a threat to (Pavlik) and they were looking for a way out," Peterson said, putting the blame on Team Pavlik.

Well, guess what? Unless Arum has a big change of heart, Margarito-Williams II is not going to happen. Hours after Tuesday's gathering at the aforementioned restaurant, Arum returned a phone call. He said he sent a letter to Goossen later Tuesday afternoon letting him know that he has no intention of making this fight because of what transpired during the Pavlik-Williams parlay.

"Absolutely not," Arum said. "I wrote a letter today telling him I will not be involved with the Williams camp after the way they jerked me around and screwed around for two weeks. I will never forget that. A Margarito-Williams fight will never happen."

Arum, however, was quick to add he does not hold Goossen accountable for what went on during the Pavlik-Williams talks.

"I don't blame Goossen," Arum said. "He is the puppet, he is not the puppeteer. Goossen got played, too."

Arum was asked if he was saying that Haymon was the "puppeteer."

"That's what I'm implying," Arum said.

Well, that blows all to heck what Goossen said earlier Tuesday during a festive event. Goossen said that promoters should not let personal vendettas prevent them from making fights the public wants to see. And he's right when he says the public would want to see a rematch between Margarito and Williams, especially if it can't get Margarito-De La Hoya.

Of course, Goossen knew Arum had hard feelings stemming from the Pavlik-Williams fiasco. What he didn't know at the time was that Arum was drafting the letter that would, at least for now, crush Margarito-Williams II.

"I'm sure there is," said Goossen, when asked if there was an issue with Arum's indignation. "But that issue, there is no issue. What, is George Steinbrenner not going to play the L.A. Dodgers because the Dodgers' GM signed somebody George Steinbrenner wanted?"

In other words, Goossen said, this is not about Arum being peeved at Williams' people, it's about giving the public the best fight available in the welterweight division.

It would be three-time champion Margarito against two-time champion Williams. Both have come back to redeem themselves -- Margarito from Williams and Williams from Carlos Quintana -- and they are inarguably the two best in the division. Mix in Williams' victory over Margarito 13 months ago, and the ingredients are there for a terrific event.

It shouldn't matter, Goossen said, "that he doesn't like me or Al. I just offered him four million reasons why he should love us."

Well, Arum has enough money, so he can tell Team Williams where to put that $4 million. Apparently, that's what he's doing.

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