The plans for a blockbuster ?Thrilla in Manila II? headlined by a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and legendary featherweight Marco Antonio Barrera, appeared in jeopardy after World Boxing Council founding secretary general Rudy Salud yesterday pulled out of the negotiations.
The bout was to be spiced up by another rematch between attractive Laila Ali and Jacqueline Frazier-Lyde on the undercard with two of the greatest heavyweights of all time Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in attendance.
Salud was involved in negotiations with a group headed by American multimillionaire Louis Pearlman, trainer Freddie Roach and lawyer Nicholas Khan for a possible rematch between Pacquiao and Barrera or an opponent from among Johnny Tapia, Clarence Bones Adams or Paulie Ayala.
The Pearlman group said they would only deal with Salud whom they picked to handle the Manila end of the promotion.
