Final thoughts on the story which rocked Pacman?s world. I decided to interview myself on this one.
Q. What has everyone missed on this story?
A. That the rumors had spread like wildfire, running through Bob Arum?s office and the offices of the World Boxing Council. It ?infected? the Barrera camp to a man except for the fighter himself. Barrera?s brother made sure no one mentioned it to MAB. I never wrote that Pacman planned to pull out of the fight. I never believed that, either.
Q. OK, you can tell me now, who was your source?
A. Make that sources plural. But the main one, well, let?s just call him Deep Trout.
Q. Do you still believe Pacman is grossly underpaid?
A. Even Stevie Wonder can see that. Does anyone say that Ricky Hatton, who is getting an $8 million guarantee for the Mayweather bout, is on the same level in terms of ring talent as Manny? I can?t hear you. Pacquaio is suffering from not having a real ballbuster representing him. He needs a Shelly Finkel type guy who claw, scratch and wrestle with Top Rank and Golden Boy. I don?t see any such creature on Pacman?s team now. Fact is that Manny Pacquaio is the most underpaid superstar in boxing!
Q. Do you regret reporting the rumors now?
A. No. It was a legitimate story. Once I heard it was echoing through Barrera?s camp and that people in his inner circle believed it, that was enough for me to make it public.
Q. If Manny is not happy with his purse, what could he do?
A. Until he gets into the ring, the fighter has all the power to get his contract readjusted. Hell, Sugar Ray Robinson used to threaten to pull out when he was in the dressing room, getting ready to glove up and when he knew the promoter was stuck with a big crowd and or TV waiting to show the fight. Ask Golden Boy about boxers threatening pullouts because they and Don King got taken over the coals by Ricardo Mayorga who demanded more money two days before his bout with Oscar de la Hoya. You can?t bring a substitute opponent that late.
Q. What then is Manny really getting paid?
A. Glad you asked. More, much more to come on that topic. Arum said Manny was getting $5 million from the Solis fight and I doubt he got half of that. I just think it?s a shame that, at the peak of his pugilistic powers, Pacquaio is not getting what he deserves.
Q. Will you stay on this subject?
A. Like white on rice, like ham on a country hog, like a collar on a dog. The answer is yes.
