WBC WANTS PACMAN-BARRERA II ASAP!
San Francisco, CA-In a press release, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has scheduled a purse bid between their titleholder, Marco Antonio Barrera, and number one contender, Manny Pacquiao, to be held on January 12th. This will only occur fight both Top Rank, Pacquiao?s recently signed promoter, and Golden Boy Promotions, Barrera?s promotional outfit, can not come to terms on a bout. In the event of a purse, any promotional company has a right to make a bid and win the promotional rights to this mega-fight.
PAC KNOCKS MARCO OUT & GETS SHORT END
According to the WBC Rule and Regulations, 2.15, the champion is entitled to 70% of the entire purse bid (minus WBC certification fees), while the challenger receives the remaining 30%. Therefore a bid of $10,000,000 will result in Barrera, who has had small PPV buys against virtual unknowns Mzonke Fana, Robbie Peden and Rocky Juarez, receives $7,000,000, while Pacquiao, who has generated over 800,000 buys in three PPV bouts, gets only $3,000,000, the exact amount he received in his last bout. However, the rule also states in specific cases the Board of Governers can have a majority vote to narrow the percentages. The highest percentage Pacquiao can get in a purse is 45% to Barrera?s 50%.
BOXING?S BEST TO BE DENIED BY WBC?
To be specific and technical, Pacquiao has not been a world champion since holding the IBF super bantamweight title in 2003. This should be noted because practically no one cares what belt belongs to which fighter; unless of course it?s unified and undisputed. Clearly, Manny Pacquiao is the best fighter at super featherweight (130 lbs) and more importantly the biggest draw and attraction at that weight class. However, before Pacquiao emerged into a superstar, by twice knocking out Erik Morales, Barrera won the green WBC belt from Morales prior, making Barrera the titleholder. And with that title comes certain privileges and rights, which include receiving the larger amount of the purse bid. Therefore, it would not bein Pacquiao?s best (see monetary) interest to fight Barrera again.
CAN KING CHANGE PACMAN’S MIND?
In an article written by Ricardo Lois of the website, Boxing Confidential, Don King has had be cited to have strong interest in winning the scheduled purse bid should it occur. Now King has rarely ventured anywhere south of 135 in terms of fights and fighters. Winning the Pacquiao-Barrera purse bid, Don King may stage the true Thrilla? in Manila II. King was the promoter of the first Thrilla in Manila?, a rubber match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Although it?s clearly against the best interests for Pacquiao to fight Barrera with the 45% of the 45-55 split, King has been known to lay huge money down on purse bids. Throw all the cards out the window, if King bids over $15,000,000. If that happens, don?t expect $500 ringside seats again. It should be noted that King did lose out to Top Rank in the Hasim Rahman vs. Oleg Maskaev purse bid, though Top Rank banked that Rahman would beat Maskaev, which did not turn out too well for Bob Arum.
