MANNY PACQUIAO will get at least $ 2 million for his April 14 showdown with Jorge Solis in Texas, but the Filipino’s take-home pay will be much more than that after all expenses are deducted by promotional outfit Top Rank.
“Under the promotional agreement made by Pacquiao’s MP promotions and Top Rank, Manny will get extra income from other money-making revenues like the pay-per-view sales, gate receipts and sponsorship deals,” Pacquiao’s trusted ally Wakee Salud said yesterday.
“Manny has a very good deal with Top Rank,” added Salud.
When Pacquiao mauled Erik Morales in the rubber match, he got $ 3 million.
“But the Morales fight is greater in magnitude that’s why Manny’s purse was higher,” said a source who is privy to the negotiations that went on involving Pacquiao and Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
Still, Pacquiao could have gotten a heftier paycheck if only he decided to honor the seven-fight promotional contract that he signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) in September last year in Los Angeles.
GBP had guaranteed Pacquiao a purse of $ 5 million if he signs to face Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch.
But ringsiders believe there is that risk against the seemingly fading and aging but highly-motivated Barrera so the lower purse Pacquiao gets against Solis is just in accordance with the choice of opponent.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s benefactor Rey Golingan reported yesterday from the oven-hot Abap Gym in General Santos City that the 28-year-old southpaw tipped the scales at 137 lbs.
The weight limit for next month’s 12-rounder at the Alamodome in San Antonio, is 130 lbs.
“That weight is fine,” said Golingan, whose amateur boxing program back in the 1990s was where Pacquiao first showed the stuff that makes him the world’s top puncher.
“I was told that Manny plans to work out also tomorrow (today),” said Golingan, who is also involved in managing professional boxers.
Pacquiao has six weeks to get in shape for the Solis bout.
Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal said the boxer will fly to Los Angeles “between March 7 and 14” and not on Tuesday for the crucial phase of training at the Wild Card Boxing Club.
