Manny Pacquiao: Filipino Star Must Leave Top Rank and Bob Arum Behind

Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum don't belong together. In fact, the two of them are about as similar as ice cream and hot soup.

After Pacquiao was robbed of a victory by the judges' controversial decision in favor of Timothy Bradley, the differences between the two men were apparent. "Pac-Man" remained cool, calm and collected, while Arum blustered in front of a microphone to the amusement of everyone in the media room.

He proclaimed his shock and dismay at the injustice of Pacquiao's loss in a loud voice while reporters chuckled at the irony, as many of them assumed he arranged the entire thing to begin with, according to Grantland's Rafe Bartholomew. 

And I thought Pacquiao was the one interested in a political career. If anyone would be perfectly suited for the dirty business of politics, it's Arum.

Then, to make matters worse, Arum has suddenly decided to refuse the rematch between Pacquiao and Bradley—the very thing Pac-Man wants to pursue, according to AP's Tim Dahlberg:

"

I hope you’re not dismayed or discouraged...I can still fight...That will make me become a warrior in the next few months, because in the rematch my feeling is I don’t want to go the whole 12 rounds.

"

It's obvious that Pacquiao and Arum aren't on the same page. 

Pac-Man would be far better off either signing on with another promoter like Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, going solo a la Floyd Mayweather, Jr. or retiring altogether after his contract is up with Top Rank in 2013.

Whatever he decides to do, the worst possible outcome for Pacquiao would be to stay with Arum and Top Rank. Those two names carry with them a stench that's intolerable, and Pac-Man deserves better than that.

Follow @JesseReed78