There have been many indications that Manny Pacquiao has made it to the big time — the million-dollar contracts, the cable-network association and challenges from a few of the elite fighters in the world.
Another such indication could be a potential pay-per-view appearance later this year when he fights Marco Antonio Barrera.
Richard Schaeffer of Golden Boy Promotions said a November fight date will be offered Team Pacquiao.
What makes this date nearly as lucrative as the oft-mentioned Manila hosting of the rematch is the proposed undercard to the Pacquiao-Barrera pay-per-view: a match that would feature two World Boxing Council (WBC) kings — super-bantamweight Oscar Larios of Mexico and featherweight In Jin Chi of Korea.
?At least, that?s what I heard,? said Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario Thursday.
Both Larios and Chi were mentioned prominently before as possible opponents of Pacquiao.
The obvious effects of the proposed twinbill will be felt naturally on television ratings, advertising traffic, the amount of media coverage, audience attendance and most specifically revenues.
But organizers opened up the possibility of California as an alternative to the Philippines primarily for one reason: security.
?Sabi ko nga kay Murad [Muhammad], sabihin lang ng [HBO] sa akin, I can fly [to HBO?s office] anytime. I?ll convince them that there will be no problems holding the fight here,? Nazario added.
?Takot kasi ang HBO dito eh.?
This will be the first time Pacquiao will headline a pay-per-view bout. He fought once on the same fight format, but on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson affair in Memphis in 2002.
If the Philippines gets to host the rematch, it will be the first time Pacquiao will fight a foreigner in Manila since he defeated Serikzhan Yeshmangbetov of Kazakhstan at the Luneta Grandstand in March last year.
The last time he fought a visitor with a title on the line was when he knocked out Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym of Thailand in his second defense of the International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight throne in October 2002.
The last time Pacquiao graced the Araneta Coliseum, the proposed venue of the Gensan native?s next colossal fight, the 25-year-old southpaw beat Seung Kon Chae of Korea via first-round technical knockout to retain for the second time the WBC International super-bantamweight belt.
He also went on to defeat an Australian, a Japanese and a Thai in three different local venues in his next three defenses of the 122-lb division.
