LAS VEGAS ? Bob Arum indeed wasn?t bluffing when he said a few weeks ago that Manny Pacquiao?s next fight, or fights, will still be with Top Rank Promotions.
“Top Rank and MP Promotions have signed a contract to promote Manny Pacquiao?s fights for the next four years,” Arum, the legendary boxing promoter, announced Saturday.
Pacquiao sat at the presidential table with manager Shelly Finkel and trainer Freddie Roach when Arum surprised the media with the announcement.
Just moments ago, Pacquiao knocked out Erik Morales in the third round. It was the end of the trilogy that Arum, the Top Rank president, promoted.
Pacquiao, last September, signed a seven-fight contract with Oscar dela Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions, and received, according to Arum, half a million dollars.
But Arum questioned the Golden Boy deal, saying it was clearly stated in the Pacquiao-Morales fight contract that the Filipino fighter cannot sign up with any other promoter before this fight.
“The original contract for this fight between Top Rank and Pacquiao prevented Manny from signing a contract with any other promoter,” said Arum
Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles last Sept. 19 to start training for the Morales bout. He had barely rested from the trip when he met Dela Hoya over dinner and signed the contract.
“He got off a plane when he came to the United States and he signed a contract with another promoter and received money,” said Arum.
“He has renounced that signing and returned the money. That?s the only statement I have to make,” he added, referring to the $350,000 signing bonus and the $150,000 advance.
It wasn?t clear if Dela Hoya did accept the money back.
No wonder Dela Hoya, the king of pay-per-view fights, was hardly, or never seen in the days leading to the Saturday?s fight at the Thomas and Mack Center. As it is, it?s now Arum who?s got a hold of Pacquiao.
