LAS VEGAS?Inquiring minds have been asking, brace yourself, an ethical question about the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya fight.
It?s common knowledge that, as a result of their out of court settlement over Pacman?s boxing services, Top Rank shares some revenues from the Pinoy Idol?s bouts with archrival Golden Boy. If you recall, Oscar used a cash-filled suitcase to try to lure Megamanny to become a GBP fighter.
Pacman was ready to roll and signed a deal with the Goldens but Top Rank struck back and the two promoters wound up in a California court before they settled.
So the question has arisen whether De La Hoya, if he had Pacman hurt and reeling, might take his foot off the gas pedal and ease up on his opponent at the MGM Grand Saturday night.
Why, after all, would fighter/promoter Oscar want to damage future money that he will acquire as Pacquiao fights others, a Ricky Hatton megafight for instance? This sounds like an ethical conundrum which might necessitate a probe by the Nevada State Athletic Commission under the heading of conflict of interest.
Promoter Bob Arum had a ready answer for Boxingconfidential on what could be a touchy subject.
?Oscar does not have his hand in Manny?s pocket,? Arum said after Wednesday?s press conference in a ghost town called Las Vegas.
?What we did for this fight was we agreed to a revenue split. They are getting 68 percent of everything and we are getting the remainder or 32 percent. That way no one can say Golden Boy is getting paid out of Pacquiao?s pocket. After this fight, when Manny fights someone else, we will go back to the revenue split under the settlement agreement.?
That brings up the question of why Pacman is only getting 32 percent but, let?s face it, despite Pacman?s huge popularity, De La Hoya remains the home team in this city. Golden Boy and Top Rank bang heads the rest of the year as the top two leading promoters staging big fights here but, for this promotion, they have been cooperating and playing nice simply out of mutual interest.
There was a time when Golden Boy demanded a 70-30 split of the total money from all sources. Top Rank then looked for a 65-35 split but finally both sides settled at 68-32.
Considering that Megamanny?s guarantee is $11 million, it?s not chopped lumpia, my friends, not in this wicked economy.
Even on weekends hotel rooms are going at fire sale prices. if you check your email in box, you too probably have bargain galore offers from some of the top hotel-casinos hereabouts.
I’ve heard from the MGM Grand, The Palms and The Rio.
It’s so nice to feel wanted.
What’s next as Vegas reels from the credit crunch, free samples from the hookers?
