MARCO CAN AVOID PAC & ANOTHER KO LOSS!
San Mateo, CA-Oscar De La Hoya once said that people need to pay to see him get into a fight. There was a reason why Larry Holmes stepped into the ring against a young Mike Tyson, only to get destroyed in four round, ?for $3.5 million dollars.? Boxing is business just like any other entity. And the business of Manny Pacquiao, I believe it benefits the business of Marco Antonio Barrera.
PACQUIAO?S PROMOTIONAL TROUBLES WELL NOTED!
Manny signed a contract with Golden Boy Promotions back in September, a day before training camp. Those who had advised Manny felt that this indeed was the best deal out there! More importantly, Pacquiao wasn?t committed to Top Rank, even though he had an upcoming fight under their umbrella. Bob Arum, head of Top Rank, has arranged many of his recent big Las Vegas bouts to be sponsored by Wynn Hotel and Casino. Arum publicly planned to have Pacquiao fight in the island of Macau (a ten minute helicopter ride from Hong Kong) to fight in the newly built Wynn Macau. That?s why Arum wanted the right to negotiate a promotional deal with Manny. If Top Rank is in the right here, and Manny had an agreement that he could not negotiate with another promoter until after November 18, then it appears GBP interfered. Look for the lawyers to get rich here!
OSCAR?S GBP HAVE BOTH BARRERA & MARQUEZ
If you?re an employee of Golden Boy Promotion, you offered the contract on the assumption that Manny had no legal commitments to Top Rank. And obviously the big money bouts for Pacquiao are with Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. Why wouldn?t Manny want to sign with the promoter who handles the two big money fighters? However, boxing is a business. Thus, could it be possible that Manny makes more money fighting in Macau, than to fight a rematch with Barrera? During the post fight press conference, Arum mentioned that Pacquiao had a bad deal with ?these other promoters.? Bob said he was getting less money than he would fighting for Top Rank.
ANOTHER PACQUIAO ?WORST? CASE SCENARIO
Now Manny Pacquiao is stuck with two contracts with two different promoters, who plan on going to court to determine who has the rights to promote boxing?s big draw. Each side has their points and won?t back down from their contracts. In the worse case scenario, both promoters would maintain their rights on Pacquiao. If Top Rank ?wins? and goes through with the Macau fight, Golden Boy Promotions would stillget a piece of Manny?s purse for however long their contract with Pacquiao is for.
BARRERA GET PAID WITHOUT GETTING KO?D
Back to the sport of boxing, most people know that should Barrera and Pacquiao fight, Manny would be a huge favorite and would likely beat Barrera in the same fashion as the first fight and maybe even quicker. The main reason for the Pacquiao-Barrera bout is the potential mega earnings for both fighters. However, boxing is still a sport and no fighter wants to end their career on their back.
MARCO SAYS HE?S NOT AFRAID OF PAC!
Look, Barrera almost lost to Rocky Juarez in the first fight, and stunk it up with Juarez in the rematch. Marco is at the point of his career when he can lose any bout at any time. Barrera plans to fight in March and no opponent has been mentioned yet. There is no guarantee that Barrera can even win that bout to set up a fight with Pacquiao in the fall of 2007.
EXPLAIN THE MONEY THING TO ME?
In this scenario, Barrera?s promotion would get money from Pacquiao, and without even promoting him. It?s unlikely that Top Rank and GBP can agree on any bout with any of their fighters. Therefore, Barrera can do what Erik Morales couldn’t do and that?s fight a couple of bouts against guys he can handle and retire a champion and on top without having to get knocked out by Manny Pacquiao.
WHAT?S IN STORE FOR PACQUIAO?
At age 27, Manny Pacquiao has done more than enough to call it a career and stroll into the hall of fame. As fellow Ring Talk scribe Cliff Rold points out, Pacquiao is the first fighter to win legitimate flyweight and featherweight championships. Eliminating Barrera and Marquez out of the picture, Pacquiao would likely go title surfing at 130lbs. The rumor is that he?ll have 20 KOs in 20 fights, WBA titlist, Edwin Valero, in March. The IBF titlist, Malcolm Klassen, 19-3-2 (10 KOs), would be prefect for a Pacquiao fight in the Philippines or San Francisco. Fights with Humberto Soto, Orlando Salido, Jorge Barrios, and Robert Guerrero all make intriguing bouts for the Pacman. Personally, I like Maxboxing?s Steve Kim?s matchmaking of Pacquiao going up to lightweight and taking on Juan Diaz.
