Through most of 2006, Manny Pacquiao was in the spotlight, chased by boxing’s top guns for the right to stage his megabuck fights.
A flick of his fingers lines up guys to his mansion for his signature to multi-million dollar fight contracts.
Cutting the best mileage out of his limited know-how in contract negotiations, Pacquiao opted for Top Rank’s Bob Arum as his promoter— much to the consternation of Oscar de la Hoya, a favorite in the tug of war between two of boxing’s prime movers.
When Arum snagged Manny’s support, the Pacman expressed preference for Marco Barrera in a rematch that earlier went south due to the proximity of Oscar de la Hoya’s title defense against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Marco Antonio fights for the Golden Boy Promotions.He co-promotes his bouts with Oscar and so with some of the other GBP fighters.
Manny’s deal with Bob Arum deprives Oscar’s outfit the chance of staging what Barrera fans have been clamoring for; an opportuniy for redemption since their idol’s fall at San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Now the much-bargained for pairing is a go— thanks to the efforts of an assigned mediator.
A treat of De La Hoya and Arum for Filipino fans.since it involves some of our country’s rising stars.
Pacquiao, last year’s huge boxing free agent is unaffected by all the fuss. As a matter of fact he is awaiting the hefty bonus earmarked by Arum.
He’s into training now that his ring date with the Mexican champ was salvaged after bitter wranglings amongst his promoters.
A mean feat I say since the rift between Arum and De La Hoya appeared irrepairable what with the announced pairing of Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera in a championship card at Mandalay Bay resort.
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Rumors continue to swirl, speculation and downright misinformation abound as to the route Manny will take while promoters persist in their hunt.
Not even Arum’s insistence of an airtight Pacquiao contract could dissuade those wanting to grab what’s left to take.
Since Manny has no plans of growing heavier and is sticking to his current class. his rematch with Barrera remains the first available option for Arum.
A factor vexing Bob is the dearth of talents in his bull pen. Rival Oscar has corraled most if not all of the viable super-featherweight contenders.So that if one insists on a Barrera/Pacquiao rematch, de la Hoya’s group must be in the mix else there’ll be no meaningful fight to begin with.
One of Arum’s fighters who is undefeated in 21 fights by knockout is the Venezuelan Edwin Valero.
Manny is not impressed at all insisting that “Valero’s KO victims are certified tuktuk drivers of Bangkok.”
So there.
