IN CASE a catastrophe happens on March 15 and Juan Manuel Marquez beats Manny Pacquiao in their much-awaited rematch in Las Vegas, a mandatory third match will be made, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum revealed yesterday.
“I made sure that Manny?s going to be protected so there?s going to be a third fight (in case Pacquiao loses),” said Arum, who hand-carried the official fight contract when he attended Pacquiao?s 29th birthday celebrations last Dec. 17, 2007 in General Santos City.
“It?s automatic (that there?s going to be a third bout).”
Asked when exactly it would be held should Marquez emerge victorious, Arum was unable to provide enough details except for minor ones, a sign that he is looking beyond March 15.
“I haven?t given it much thought because I don?t anticipate Manny losing this fight,” said Arum, who was waiting for a flight to New York at Los Angeles International when the Bulletin caught up with him hours after presiding over a press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
But unlike in the rematch wherein there is a 70-30 split on the purse in favor of the 29-year-old Pacquiao, Arum said it will be “50-50” once a rubber match is held.
“Marquez sacrificed a lot just to make this fight happen,” said the respected New York-born promoter.
The amount of Pacquiao?s purse and other financial perks from other revenue-generating schemes like the pay-per-view and ticket sales remain under wraps although the boxer?s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, said Pacquiao stands to receive his biggest paycheck from the Marquez rematch.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach was also in attendance during the luncheon affair and while he admits that the 34-year-old Marquez looked fine, the Boston-born corner man said he doesn?t care, sounding as though he was Rhett Butler telling Scarlett O?Hara to get lost in Gone With The Wind.
“What I care about is what he (Marquez) looks like after eight weeks (of training),” said Roach, breaking into laughter upon his return to the Wild Card after the press conference.
Roach said he asked Pacquiao to have another day-off “so he could rest” although the country?s boxing icon was in the mode to work out after the press conference.
Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles on Monday night from a 12-hour flight from Manila but that won?t be the case on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
“We?ll begin working on Wednesday,” said the 47-year-old former featherweight contender who has been calling the shots in Pacquiao?s corner since mid-2001.
Under Arum?s plans, Pacquiao returns to the ring sometime in the end of June at the Venetian Hotel in Macau to face World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz, who sees action underneath the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch at the Mandalay Bay.
“(Top Rank matchmaker) Bruce Trampler knows who David Diaz is fighting,” said Arum.
And should Pacquiao topple Diaz, Arum will line him up against British Ricky Hatton in November “in Dubai or Las Vegas.”
But before they think of a Dubai or another Vegas fight, Pacquiao must first beat Marquez.
