When I was an alleged kid, one of the best TV copper programs was one about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, more commonly known as the Mounties. The hero was Sgt. Preston who, along with faithful dog, always got his man. The sarge would mush through sleet, snow, unbearable blizzards and the like but, remember, he always got his man. The sarge made life miserable for all the cons in the Yukon.
I?m not saying that the Mounties are coming after Manny Pacquiao but I can reveal to you that Canada, at least the province of British Columbia, is going to go all out in a concerted effort to bring the Pinoy boxing idol and his March 15 fight to the great city of Vancouver.
I can also report to you exclusively that the Bring Pacman To B.C. Campaign has grown some serious legs. So serious that Manny?s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, is going to visit Vancouver and environs after his client wraps up the big Nike commercial shoot this weekend at Freddie Roach?s Wildcard Gym in Hollywood.
Yes, long thought to be endemic only to warm climes, ?The Jackal? himself will invade the frozen tundra of the first-class city in the Great White North. His main host in Canada is would-be boxing promoter Geoffrey Hughes, an outgoing fellow who has earned a fortune in the real estate game.
In fact, as you read this, Hughes is in Los Angeles to meet and greet both Attonrey Gacal and Megamanny.
As it stands, it appears that WBC lightweight champion David Diaz or WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, who is desperately willing to fight Manny at either weight, will be the March 15 opponent. According to Hughes, the name of the opponent is less important in Vancouver than elsewhere.
?We?d like to have the best opponent possible, of course,? Hughes told me recently when I met him at a dinner where he accompanied his old friend, fight promoter Lou DiBella, in Manhattan. ?But we really believe we can fill up the beautiful GM Place (home of the NHL Canucks) regardless of who the opponent is. We will attract Filipinos from the entire West Coast and from various parts of Canada and we believe that many. Many people who are not of Fiipino descent will want to be in person to see this boxing legend.
?We have not a huge boxing event up here since the second Muhammad Ali-George Chuvalo fight and it?s interesting to note that Bob Arum promoted the first fight between those two and now co-promotes Manny Pacquiao,? Hughes said.
The promoter noted that the city has earned the tag ?Hollywood North? in recent years as special tax laws and other financial advantages have lured film producers to the scenic area.
“I am sure we can sort out whatever American/Canada/Filipino tax issues there may be in a manner which will be attractive to the Pacquiao camp and to Mr. Arum,” Hughes said.
Hughes also mentioned that he will be joined in hosting lawyer Gacal by Chris Zimmerman, the CEO of Orca Bay Sports which owns the NHL team and GM Place. Zimmerman has invited the two to be his special guests Sunday night to see the Canucks skate against the Chicago Black Hawks.
Manny Pacquiao fighting in Canada? That long longshot is starting to look more and more like a very good bet.
