MANILA, Philippines—It’s unknown to most fans, but Manny Pacquiao faces what could be the most crucial weekend of his ring career.
After a seven-hour deposition Thursday, Pacquiao was to come back for more Friday (today in Manila) to clear his position in the case filed by Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) against Top Rank in a Los Angeles court.
Pacquiao gave his deposition to a battery of GBP lawyers in connection with the contractual interference case filed by Oscar De La Hoya against Bob Arum.
A court-ordered mediation has been set for Saturday.
“Bob Arum has the good intentions for Manny, but it’s Oscar De La Hoya who could give him (Pacquiao) what could be solidly rewarding for his career in the long run,” international promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud told the Inquirer yesterday.
Salud, who arrived Wednesday morning from Los Angeles, has advised Pacquiao to look at his career from a long-term perspective in terms of legacy and financial stability.
He singled out Pacquiao’s last fight against the unheralded Jorge Solis which did not draw enough pay-per-view attention and earned Pacquiao only $2 million instead of the promised $5 million purse.
“He should look at his options with objectivity, taking into account his legacy in boxing as well as financial stability for life,” said Salud.
Golden Boy has promotional rights over an army of fighters who can give Pacquiao the boxing legacy as well as the purse he rightfully deserves.
Among the fighters promoted by GBP are World Boxing Council 130-lb king Juan Manuel Marquez, the popular Marco Antonio Barrera, Dominican Republic’s Joan Guzman and Argentinian Jorge Barrios.
Golden Boy also enjoys mutual cooperation with Asia’s most influential promoter, Akihiko Honda, who promotes the unbeaten WBA superfeatherweight boss Edwin Valero of Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Arum has also informed Boxingconfidential in an exclusive report that he is “ready to make total peace” in all disputes between Top Rank and GBP.
“What happens this coming weekend could change the whole Pacman situation,” Arum said. “A settlement with Golden Boy, if it happens, opens up the whole picture. So we’ll have to wait to see what happens in the mediation.”
