COLOR me a party-pooper but I?m not in favor of having Manny Pacquiao fight his swan song in the country. And I am certainly not amused that we have the DOT secretary announcing something that isn?t her business, a Manny Pacquiao rematch with Jeff Horn. There was a rematch clause in their contract because wily Bob Arum is wily Bob Arum and Pacquiao vs. Horn 2 is going to happen in Brisbane or not at all.
Manny Pacquiao the boxer, presumably, read the fight contract that he signed and presumably knows the ramifications of such contract.
And now here comes the DOT stepping in announcing something that isn?t their business. And this from the same department which, in January, announced the P3 billion for a Manny Pacquiao fight could be best spent elsewhere.
I agree and whether it?s P3 billon or P3 thousand, this country has no business promoting, organizing and spending for a Manny Pacquiao fight.
Point 1. This isn?t for the country nor for Manny Pacquiao?s fans, this one is all about Manny Pacquiao and the millions of dollars he would get fighting. Yes, we all love to see Manny fight and win, but let some promoter or another city spend for it, not us. And if it ever pushes through here, it?s a big lie that it?s going to be for the Filipino fans because it?s going to be held at noon, for the US boxing fans? convenience.
Point 2. To the best of my memory, Manny Pacquiao has defied Bob Arum twice and both times he came back whimping with his tails between his legs to good old Uncle Bob. The first one was when he signed with Golden Boy Promotions while under contract with Top Rank (guess what happened) and the second one was when he rejected Top Rank?s offer for a fight with Jeff Horn and shopped for an opponent for a fight in Dubai (guess what happened?). He lost both times and well it just shows that while Manny and the DOT has started hyping the Dec. 9 bout, if Uncle Bob says it?s not going to happen, it won?t happen.
If this happened as late as maybe two years ago, perhaps the support would be there for a Manny Pacquiao farewell fight at home. But at this point in his career?both in sport and in politics?I doubt if it?s going to be a sound investment.
