Is it time for a change?
A combination of factors has contributed to the continued snub by top-caliber fighters of Manny Pacquiao. And one of those factors may be the need for a more influential promoter that could land Pacquiao the big fights.
Pacquiao flew to California last week to train at the Wild Card Gym. But there have been no clear negotiations for an opponent until now.
The last time Pacquiao went to North America with no definite foe to fight was in 2001, when he flew to the US for a vacation.
He was summoned then as a replacement to fight Lehlo Ledwaba of South Africa. Pacquiao defeated Ledwaba to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-bantamweight belt.
Talks among IBF and World Boxing Association champion Juan Manuel Marquez, comebacking Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera and World Boxing Council super-featherweight king Erik Morales have fallen apart, leaving Pacquiao without what he considers ?worthy opponents.?
?Sa isang banda mahirap din pala ?yung magaling ang boksingero mo, kasi ayaw ka ngang makaharap,? said boxing analyst Moy Lainez, a senior member of Team Pacquiao.
?Kung ako ang manager nu?ng kalaban, ba?t ko nga naman isasabak sa tulad ni Manny ?yung boksingero ko??
Because of the failed talks that have littered Pacquiao?s quest for a big-name foe, Lainez added that the possibility of shopping for a new promoter is also open.
?Siguro dapat ding tingnan kung may ibang promoter na puwedeng magbigay kay Manny nu?ng laban.
?There a lot of big players sa America ngayon. If you?re not part of that, mahihirapan si Manny makahanap nu?ng quality fights,? Lainez continued.
Murad Muhammad currently handles Pacquiao?s US-based fights. He is in his final year under contract with Pacquiao.
Asked whether Team Pacquiao is willing to hold the fight outside of North America, Lainez replied that there aren?t enough talented fighters, as well as lucrative deals outside of the US that could match Pacquiao?s value.
?Manny?s too big right now for a fight in Europe or even South Korea,? Lainez said. ?[Pacquiao] got $750,000 in May. Baka hindi kayang ma-afford ng ibang bansa ?yung ganu?ng mga figures.?
Lainez admitted that Rod Nazario, Pacquiao?s business manager, is still patiently waiting for a breakthrough deal and hopes to land a fight for Pacquiao before the year ends.
So far, two names have significantly come up as possible opponents for Pacquiao: featherweight Scott Harrison from Scotland and Cuban-born super-featherweight Joel Casamayor.
According to Lainez, between the two candidates, Nazario is bent on tapping Harrison, who has a scheduled October 29 bout. Harrison, who owns a 22-2-1 record, has no opponent yet for that date.
Pacquiao himself, meanwhile, is said to be ?not interested in a Casamayor fight.?
Lainez was expecting developments from Nazario, who was supposed to touch down in Florida Monday, granting hurricane Ivan does not pass through the southeastern coast of the US.
?The worst-case scenario is we won?t have a fight until next year,? Lainez said.
Asked whether Pacquiao was prepared for that scenario, Lainez said that while ?Nazario is patient, Pacquiao isn?t.?
?Manny wants to get on the ring as soon as possible. He?s just itching to do so.?
